Ridgeview clinches national US distribution

By Jo Gilbert

Published: 08 February, 2017

Ridgeview's sparkling wine could feature on wine lists from West Virginia to Washington thanks to a distribution deal in the US.

The national import and distribution arrangement with Banville Wine Merchants is part of an expansion push for the Sussex-based winery and marks a consolidation of its distribution model from working on a state-by-state basis with various importers to working with one overall agency.

Today, Ridgeview said it has seen a significant rise in its US exports since its first shipment in 2011.

Demand for English sparkling wine is growing in the US, with wineries such as Chapel Down, Gusbourne, Camel Valley, Digby, Hattingley and Hush Heath all now available stateside.

As demand grows, so do the efforts of winemakers in the UK to protect exports.

Recently, the UK Vineyard Association applied for a PGI to protect the term 'British' when referring to British-made wine - predominantly to ensure that the term is used to denote wine made from grapes grown in the UK and made using the traditional method.

The application was partly prompted by the widespread use of the term 'British' on wine lists in markets like the US.

Ridgeview's strategy in the US is to reach independent merchants, but is largely driven by the on-trade, where they have seen "great traction and visibility" with high-some high-end restaurants and sommeliers.

Ridgeview CEO Tamara Roberts said: "Banville's portfolio selection is a testament to their insistence on high quality imports and we are happy to be among these.

"Their headquarters in New York allows us to build our presence in US markets where demand for English sparkling wine is greatest, while giving us the support we need to be successful in continuing to spread our efforts throughout the USA."

Ridgeview Wine Estate was founded in 1995 by the Roberts family.

Banville is a national fine wine importer with a focus in on European imports, specifically family-owned, terroir driven producers.

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