Housing the French

Published: 18 January, 2007

Housing the French
Winery Exchange has teamed up with the Co-op in an effort to bring French wines back into the loop with The Frenchhouse range from the Languedoc.
The new wines are focused on the young at heart', and the packaging is bold and contemporary. Paul Bastard, wine-development manager for the Co-op, comments: The Frenchhouse concept is an imaginative one, and the wine is sourced from a family operation of scrupulous process, blended to our specifications and overseen by flying winemakers who know what is needed to succeed in the UK market.' From January 2006, two wines from the range will be available: The Frenchhouse Grenache/Mourvdre and Chardonnay. Both will retail for 4.49 in more than 2,000 Co-op stores across the country.

Silky dessert

BrandPhoenix and Bodegas de Gandia have launched the new dessert wine Fusta Nova. It's the result of a competition among 20 young designers from Valencia and is packaged with serigraphy (stencil print on silk) rather than paper labels. The wine is produced from old vines in the subzone Moscatel de Valencia and is aged for three months in oak casks. Steve Barton, BrandPhoenix director, says: This is a great example of how to bring dessert wine to younger consumers. Priced at 4.99, this is a wine that's hard to beat!' Fusta Nova is newly listed in Thresher.

A gift from Cognac

Hine Vintage Cognacs are introducing a limited-edition collection of Grande Champagne Vintage Cognacs for travel retail. The range comprises Hine 1975 Red Gift Box, Hine 1976 Purple Gift Box and Hine 1981 Yellow Gift Box. Only 650 bottles of each vintage are available, and the packaging will be in traditional Charentais-shaped bottles. The Hine family of Cognacs includes H' by Hine, Rare VSOP, Antique XO, Triomphe, Mariage and Talent de Thomas Hine.

The recommended travel-retail shelf prices for the Vintage Cognac gift boxes are e270-290.

Baby Chivas

Following the relaunch of Chivas Regal 18 Year Old Gold Signature, it will now be available exclusively in 20cl miniature bottles at major airports. The idea is to give consumers the opportunity to sample a unique blend of Scotch whisky' for a recommended retail price of 16.99'.

Eager for apples

Eager Apple Juice is new for the on-trade. It is 100% naturally pressed apple juice, packaged in long-life cartons and designed for either drinking on its own or mixing with spirits. Creator Ed Rigg comments: Eager Apple Juice contains natural fruit sugars and is a good source of vitamin C, making it a healthier alternative to cranberry juice, most fizzy soft drinks and tonic water. It is for the barman to own and is a great accompaniment to any bar.'

Box of bubbles

Krug Champagne is keeping up appearances with a new Burgundy and gold gift box for its Krug Grande Cuve half-bottle. The style follows the design developed by Franois Bauchet for the bottle and magnum sizes of Krug Grande Cuve, which was introduced in January 2005. Mark Cornell, managing director of Krug, reports: I believe that the Krug Grande Cuve half-bottle in a beautiful gift box will make a perfect present for the gift-giving seasons and occasions around the world.' There will be no premium charged to customers for the gift box.

The recommended retail price for Krug half-bottles is from 43.

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