NEWS
Platinum cuvée to celebrate Queen’s anniversary Greyfriars’ owner, Mike Wagstaff is planning to release a platinum cuvée of his limited edition Cuvée Royale sparkling wine by way of celebration of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee this year. The owner of the Greyfriars vineyard on the Hog’s Back near Guildford, Surrey, revealed his plans to Vineyard magazine. His Cuvée Royale is normally a traditional blend of Chardonnay/Pinot Noir. Mike has yet to decide on the final blend for his ‘Platinum’ cuvée. Cuvée Royale normally retails for £32. Mike expects to produce approximately 3,000 individually numbered bottles. Mike Wagstaff told Vineyard: “We released our first Prestige Cuvée, the Cuvée Royale around the time of the last Royal Wedding and it has improved with age winning a major trophy in the 2021 WineGB competition. It is only fitting that the second release of this really special wine will celebrate Her Majesty’s Platinum anniversary. “I think the Platinum Cuvée Royale will be a brilliant accompaniment to the Platinum pudding and we are working hard on our own recipe to pair with this wine”. The Platinum Jubilee of Elizabeth II is being marked this year, in recognition of the 70th anniversary of the accession of Queen Elizabeth II on 6 February, 1952.
Rawlings and Vigo merge to offer complete processing and packaging solution
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Rawlings state that the merger brings together Rawlings’ portfolio of primary packaging solutions and Vigo’s comprehensive processing equipment and consumables offering for clients in the premium drinks market, with expansion to deliver an end-to-end solution for premium food, health, and beauty brands. The primary objective was to combine Rawlings’ expertise delivering off-the-shelf and bespoke glass packaging, graphic design, branding and decoration with Vigo’s tailored drink production systems, which include equipment, configuration, technical adaptions, installation, and full support from their team of engineers, providing clients with a complete packaging and production solution in one place. The move allows both Rawlings and Vigo to increase the capacity, efficiency, and scale of their existing offerings. Both Vigo and Rawlings will continue to trade at their existing premises and the same dedicated team
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and support remain in place. Rawlings’ managing director Tom Wood, said: “We are excited to be joining forces with the Vigo team. There is a tremendous fit around people, values and purpose making this is a very natural and organic expansion. Both businesses will extend their capabilities to offer incredible value for our clients.” Simon Pitts, managing director of Vigo said: “We are really excited about the opportunities being a part of Rawlings brings. Joining forces allows us to take much bigger strides forward in capacity and offering than we would have been able to do on our own. This will help drive increased value and range for our customers as well as strengthen our backup and support offering. Equally important, the culture and ethics of both businesses are closely aligned, and I have no doubt that the sharing of knowledge will further boost our offering.”
