|  Unknown to many perhaps, Robert has a small business of wine marketing, in partnership with Ryman, an Englishman living in Bordeaux. Also partnering him is another person for marketing. The group has created a Brand-MANYANA to sell wines.
Bordeaux wines are marketed under the Colleccion de Chateaux label. Yet another brand is Greener Planet-marketing ecologically produced wines. Chardonnay and Viognier blend from Roussillon is another French product being marketed. 'Keeping in view my image, we have introduced a black sheep on the logo'. Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand has been simply labeled as Zeal.
The company sells about 70,00 cases a year, slightly less than Grover's sales. Wines are exported mainly to USA, Canada and Japan. 'But not a single bottle is sold in UK ,' he adds. It is a very difficult market to sell in. 80% of off-trade wine is sold through supermarkets like Tesco, Sainsbury. These are not brand conscious organisations and are very price sensitive.'
'Our effort is to produce consistent standard of wines every year. We make a blend from different vintages, grapes and the properties. But we offer good value for money. The equivalent price of our £ 5 wine is £8 in super markets', he adds. In any case, there is too much of Bordeaux in UK and it is not possible for another Bordeaux entrant'.
How much land or vineyards he owns, you might ask. None!! It is all bought from outside.
He is not the only journalist who is marketing wines. Steven Spurrier, James Halliday and Hugh Johnson are some of the other wine journalists who also market wine.
It is all about branding, Dear Watson! All the wine sold is bought from the market. Perhaps, he was scouting round for some Indian wine for marketing when he was tasting Sula, Vinsura, Grover, N.D. or Nine Hills in India when he attended IFE-India?!
There have been quite a few rebuttals and reactions on the previous articles about him in delWine. We shall publish some after the New Year holidays-editor. |
