National Liquor News August 2020 by The Intermedia Group

vol. 39 no. 7 - August 2020

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AUSTRALIAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S LEADING LIQUOR INDUSTRY MAGAZINE

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If you’re not reading

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National Liquor News is the only independent, impartial, trade journal published in our industry today. In these tough times, more than ever, it’s critical to keep the lines of communication open and National Liquor News has both the readership and the journalistic integrity to achieve this.” CHRIS O’BRIEN G E N E R A L M A N AG E R , L I Q U O R B A R O N S

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National Liquor News is a great source of information as it brings together all the stories and issues from across this great industry. It packages up special interest, consumer trends, new product innovation, and current affairs all into the one easy-to-read format.” ANDREW WILSMORE C E O , A LC O H O L B E V E R AG E S A U S T R A L I A

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National Liquor News really is the fastest way to get your message across to the whole Australian liquor industry. It’s as important to our members as the Financial Review is to the business community. When you’re looking for answers on any liquor issue then it’s always the first port of call. Basically if it’s happening in the liquor industry then you can guarantee they are across it.” PETER PECK C E O , L I Q U O R S T O R E S AS S O C I AT I O N O F W E S T E R N A U S T R A L I A

then you’re not up to speed on the latest trends, NPD, new releases and best practice running a liquor store, but don’t take our word for it…we asked some of the industry what they think.

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National Liquor News delivers multiple purpose for me. The topical content on market trends and industry news helps us all to keep in touch with important information and in some cases, validates our promotional plans. It’s also a great platform to read the thoughts and opinions of our industry leaders on various topics across the national market.” VA U G H A N P E T E R S N AT I O N A L T R A D E M A N AG E R , L I Q U O R L E G E N D S

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We find National Liquor News to be a forum of valuable expertise between industry colleagues, inspiring each other in the journey to successful achievements. It is an effective medium to foster the co-operative’s mission with the publication’s extensive and esteemed following.” PA U L E S P O S I T O CEO, INDEPENDENT LIQUOR GROUP

S U B S C R I B E : shop.nationalliquornews.com.au A DV E R T I S E : Shane T Williams – stwilliams@intermedia.com.au E D I T O R I A L : Deborah Jackson – djackson@intermedia.com.au

Editor’s note

WE ENCOURAGE RESPONSIBLE DRINKING

Editor’s note

Get the facts DrinkWise.org.au

As we go to print with the August issue of National

In this issue we speak to three liquor retailers

Liquor News, Victoria has moved into a State of

about how they’ve changed the way they do

Disaster and Melbourne has implemented Stage Four,

business in 2020.

which further tightens restrictions on movement

On page 13, we hear from Scott Fitzsimons

within the state. This includes the frequency and

from The Oak Barrel in Sydney who has been

distance of which people are permitted to travel

working with Kathleen Davies and Nip of Courage

from their homes, as well as a strict curfew being

to support Aussie distillers with virtual tastings.

implemented between 8pm to 5am.

On page 14, we chat with Nigel Williams from

Fortunately, while a vast majority of retail

North Avalon Fleet Street who says that there has

outlets have been forced to close, bottle shops are

been a spike in sales of gin and tequila during

still being considered an essential service and will

the pandemic.

continue to trade.

And on page 20 we meet Dave Moss who has

To all of our friends and colleagues in Melbourne, we are all with you 100 per cent of the way. In response to the Victorian Government’s new COVID-19 restrictions, Retail Drinks Australia

managed to give his Harry Brown Bracken Ridge Tavern store a complete five star renovation over the past couple of months, all without ever closing the doors to customers.

has redesigned and enhanced its Social Distancing

There is all this and much more in the August

Guidelines for Liquor Stores, and every retailer is

issue of National Liquor News. Hopefully you will

encouraged to download them. You can read more

find the information useful with the running of

about them on page 11. You can also read Acting

your business. And if you have any stories to share,

CEO, Michael Waters’ monthly update on page 22.

like Scott, Nigel and Dave, then please do reach out

Liquor stores have been the lifeblood of the

to me on djackson@intermedia.com.au.

industry during the pandemic, being extremely agile and adapting quickly to new rules and

Deborah Jackson, Managing Editor

restrictions, while also being ahead of shifts in

02 8586 6206

trends and consumer spending.

djackson@intermedia.com.au

More newsletter reads

www.retaildrinks.org.au

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eer Cartel launches B fifth annual Craft Beer Survey rinkWise launches D Bounce Back podcast elbourne brewers M push to help struggling venues J obKeeper Payment extended to March 2021 inemakers unite W for Adelaide Hills Wine Fire Appeal

Virtual tastings put small producers on the map Western Australia’s Small Business and Tourism Minister, Paul Papalia, has praised an initiative that was launched by Liquor Stores Association of Western Australia (LSA WA), aimed at bringing small family-owned wineries together with buyers from independent liquor stores. Representatives from banner groups including, Independent Brands Australia (IBA), Liquorstax, Liquor Barons and Bottlemart, came together for the first in a series of virtual tastings to be hosted by LSA WA. Minister Papalia opened the tasting by saying: “I would

Throughout the event, winery representatives presented

like to commend the LSA WA on this initiative in putting

their flagship wines alongside a brief history of their vineyards.

some family-owned wineries together with some movers and

A panel of buyers and banner groups then tasted the wines

shakers in the independent liquor world, enabling them to

and asked questions.

have the reach across a much greater potential market. It is a fantastic initiative. “These tastings are part of a wider plan, which was

Julie Hutton, Managing Partner at Windfall Wine Estates, explained what the opportunity meant to the wineries involved. “To be able to reach out to independent liquor traders on

spawned before the COVID period and as a result have been

this scale would not normally be possible to a small producer

fast tracked. We think this is an initiative that will bring about

such as Windfall Estate, and we are extremely grateful for the

many benefits for the industry overall.”

opportunity,” Hutton said.

August 2020 | 11

News

Stone & Wood gives $100,000 to local not-for-profits The Northern Rivers Large Grants Program 2020, run by Stone & Wood’s not-for-profit the inGrained Foundation, has awarded $100,000 in funding shared among six local recipients. This is the second year the program has invited Northern Rivers social and environmental not-for-profits with DGR status to apply for a grant. This year, applicants had to show how their projects contribute to the theme of ‘regeneration and social connection’. The theme was inspired by the devastating bushfire season as well as social restrictions coming from COVID-19, which led the inGrained Foundation Grants Committee to focus on the future of the local community. InGrained Foundation Director James Perrin said: “We

McWilliam’s creditors vote to secure company’s future

couldn’t be happier with this year’s Grants Program. We received

KPMG’s Gayle Dickerson, Tim Mableson and Ryan Eagle

which certainly made selecting the recipients more challenging

have confirmed that McWilliam’s Wines Group creditors

but also affirmed the amazing work they’re doing for our

have voted in favour of the Deed of Company Arrangement

community and environment.”

(DOCA) put forward by global capital and asset management firm, Prcstnt Asset Management. Gayle Dickerson, Restructuring Services Partner, KPMG

applications from 55 awesome not-for-profits in our region,

Recipients include the Rainforest 4 Foundation large scale regeneration project across fire-impacted areas; the Mullum District Neighbourhood Centre launch of a nutritional food relief

Australia said: “McWilliam’s creditors have voted to accept

and food sustainability project for those in financial difficulty

the recapitalisation proposal put forward by Prcstnt. This is

or isolation; Tweed Landcare’s project to regenerate wildlife

an extremely positive outcome for all involved, especially in

in fire-affected Terragon; Support for New Mums relaunch of

the current challenging economic environment. Not only will

a volunteer home-visit program for new mothers without local

unsecured creditors likely receive full repayment of their debts

support networks and Zero Emissions Byron’s work to draw down

owed, it preserves ongoing employment for all McWilliam’s

carbon and reinvigorate local biodiversity.

staff and a possible return to existing shareholders.” Dickerson, Mableson and Eagle were appointed as Administrators to McWilliam’s Wine Group on 8 January 2020. The Administrators will continue to trade the business

The permanent team at Stone & Wood also created a $15,000 ‘Employee Funded Grant’ which this year went to Autism Camp Australia to purchase musical and play equipment. For more information about the inGrained Foundation

during the DOCA process with an expectation that Prcstnt

and the Northern Rivers Large Grants Program, visit

will assume full control of McWilliam’s by October.

www.ingrainedfoundation.com.au.

David Pitt, McWilliam’s Wines Group CEO, who will continue to lead the business, added: “While it has been a challenging journey over the past six months from bushfires to voluntary administration and a pandemic, we are now very excited to have our future confirmed. The McWilliam’s family for six generations have demonstrated the entrepreneurial spirit required to take on all challenges before them, now myself and the broader team are very much looking forward to working with Prcstnt Asset Management as the new custodians of that legacy to ensure the McWilliam’s brand lives on for future generations within Australian wine heritage.” 12 | National Liquor News

Spotlight: Nip of Courage

Nip of Courage increases retail focus The independent Australian spirits distributor is thinking outside the box to uniquely serve independent retailers.

The Oak Barrel example ALIA Liquor Store of the Year, The Oak Barrel is one retailer that has already teamed up with

The impacts of the pandemic are far

don’t feel left out and to make it more

reaching across many different areas

approachable,” Davies said.

of the drinks industry, and it’s forcing

The Rye July box, as with all Nip

businesses across the country to adapt.

of Courage products, is retail friendly

At Nip of Courage, where most of its

with an individual barcode and a built

pre-pandemic business was made up of

in margin. Inside is a YouTube link to

on-premise customers, the continued

a virtual masterclass for customers to

uncertainty pushed Founder Kathleen

go through at their own pace. It’s an

Davies to innovate their offering further.

easy way for retailers to boost customer

“It’s just really up in the air at the

interest and understanding in the

moment, but we’re trying to stay

category, while still making a profit, as

optimistic and look for other areas

everything has already been taken care

to grow our business,” Davies told

of by Davies’ team – all that’s left is for

National Liquor News.

a retailer to put the pack on the shelf.

One of these areas is based around

The educational packs are

spirits education, showcasing the great

customisable too, so the options are

craftsmanship of Australian distillers.

endless. Davies said it can be any type

The first example was Rye July, a tasting

of spirit, branded with logos, and

box of four whiskies from Belgrove

videos can be live or on-demand – it’s

Distillery, with an on-demand virtual

as interactive as the retailer requires.

masterclass to teach people about rye

“We want it to be tailored. Obviously

whiskey and build their confidence to

we can pre-make the kits and let them

explore the category.

know what we’ve got, but if [a retailer]

“We thought there was a good

wants to have a special session with the

opportunity to introduce a rookie level,

distiller live, then we can do that and

where people can feel comfortable

actually help promote it,” Davies said.

learning from scratch about things in

Find out more about Nip of

layman’s terms. It explains things a little

Courage at its website, or contact

bit better along the way so that people

admin@nipofcourage.com.

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Nip of Courage for this initiative and Scott Fitzsimons has so far hosted live virtual tasting events with the distillers from Imbue Distillery and Belgrove Distillery. “We’ve been doing a lot of virtual tastings in the past four months in a lot of different formats, so having something like this that was pre-packed, ready to go, we don’t really have to touch anything apart from shipping them out is a huge time saver on our end,” Fitzsimons said. “Even before we talk about how good the juice is inside, it’s a really professional pack that reflects well on us at The Oak Barrel. We’ve thrown together some pretty shabby-looking packs during lockdowns, so this is a big step up. “Beyond that, Kathleen and Nip of Courage are so fucking good at what they do that I’ll always listen to an idea the team have. They’ve got a great portfolio of Aussie spirits and have done so much for the industry locally, whether it’s part of their family or not, that even before I read the first line of any new idea or proposal I know that it’s going to have the interests and needs of the distillers as the centrepiece. “It’s been such a stupidly extraordinary year and regional distillers have felt it incredibly harshly, so anything we can do to help at the moment and provide great drinks and memories for our customers is a no brainer.”

August 2020 | 13

Retailer Profile

North Avalon Fleet Street In this month’s retailer profile we get to know Nigel Williams of North Avalon Fleet Street. Williams converted his store to the new Fleet Street model in late 2019, and has been enjoying the benefits ever since. NLN: How did you get into liquor retailing? NIGEL: I started in 1994 at what was then The Newport Bottler. The job was supposed to pay my way through university – but I discovered that I liked liquor retailing far more than university, so I was able to turn a part time job into a fulltime job.

NLN: When did your store convert to Fleet Street? And how has it been received? NIGEL: We have been a Fleet Street store since September 2019. We made some fairly extensive changes to the store layout and the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. From the layout right through to the Fleet Street branding, which is very smart.

NLN: How has the first half of 2020 been for you? Have you made any changes to the way you do business?

“Because we are not restricted by core ranging in the same way that some of our local competitors are, we are able to react quickly to new industry trends, and especially to local consumer demand.”

NIGEL: Obviously 2020 has been a challenging time for our economy, but for the most part I think many liquor retailers have been trading well.

NLN: What products are big movers in your store and why do you think that is?

As for changes, during the first wave of COVID-19

NIGEL: Our two biggest categories are wine and beer

we made the decision to shut the store to customers

in approximately equal parts. They represent about

and trade from the front door. This was for everyone’s

80 per cent of our trade. Craft beer is obviously a fast

safety and was definitely challenging in what was a

growing category and I believe that is because of the

time of such uncertainty. After that, it was pretty much

shift by consumers for quality and flavour over volume.

batten down the hatches and trade as best we could.

As mentioned earlier, premium gin and tequila

This was at the beginning of April and lasted about

have also gone extremely well recently.

four weeks.

NLN: How do you stand apart from your local competitors?

NLN: What are the benefits of being a part of Independent Liquor Group (ILG)? NIGEL: ILG definitely has the feeling of being a family

NIGEL: Because we are not restricted by core ranging

(being a co-operative). There is definitely co-operation

in the same way that some of our local competitors

between members. It has been very satisfying to see

are, we are able to react quickly to new industry

it grow, especially interstate.

trends, and especially to local consumer demand.

The benefits are that they are able to adapt and have

For example during the first set of COVID-19

the open mindedness to do so. For example, there was

restrictions we had a sudden demand for premium gin

the conversation with ILG about the opportunity for a

and tequila. We were able to react quickly to expand our

premium product focused banner and the result has

range – especially at the premium end of the gin market.

been Fleet Street.

14 | National Liquor News

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Quickfire Round: • Favourite tipple? White wine, especially Chablis • Footy team you support? Sea Eagles • Any industry role model? Former Newport Bottler Licensee, Richard Llewellyn • Best movie ever made? Fifth Element

A sleep-in, a backyard barbecue and Green Coast Lager â&#x20AC;&#x201C; give Dad the simple moments he really wants this Fatherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Day.

Marketplace Connecting brands and retailers Little Creatures’ new milk stout Little Creatures, known for its seasonal winter releases, has announced its latest milk stout creation, called Coconut Banger. Coming in at 5.6 per cent ABV, Coconut Banger combines a silky blend of malts, vanilla, cocoa bean and shredded coconut, to create a beer that is perfect for a cosy night at home. Russ Gosling, Head Brewer at Little Creatures Fremantle, said the new release meets the increasing consumer demand for new and innovative beverages. “We wanted to brew a beer this year that’s perfect to enjoy on the couch over the winter months, but with a flavour profile reminiscent of a holiday to your favourite destination,” Gosling said. “Coconut Banger is a stout at its core with exotic components that work in perfect harmony to create a modern take on an older style of beer.” Little Creatures Coconut Banger is available nationally, with a six pack RRP of $25. For more information, head to https://littlecreatures.com.au/beers/coconut-banger.

Stone & Wood enters seltzer market Stone & Wood has made its first play into the burgeoning seltzer market with the launch of its own gluten free hard seltzer, Sunly. Sunly will sit under its own brand, Sunly Drinks Co. A sister company to Stone & Wood, Fixation Brewing and Granite Cider Belt Co, which together sit under Fermentum. Unlike some other hard seltzer brands that use vodka as the alcohol, Sunly is brewed with gluten free grain, hops, water and yeast through a similar process used to brew beer and is infused with natural ingredients at the final stage. It has a four per cent ABV and has 90 per cent less sugar than other vodka RTD beverages on the market. It is available now in four-packs of 300ml cans or 16-can cartons.

FAST FACT…

16 | National Liquor News

Hard seltzers have boomed in the US since 2016, with Northern Americans spending AUD$1.38 billion on hard seltzer in 2020 alone.

FREE WINTER WARMERS

Classic winter occasions deserve to be enjoyed with O’Brien’s gluten-free Stout or Brown Ale. Brewed with the goodness of ancient grains.

rebellionbrewing.com.au

Marketplace

King’s Cross Distillery’s new award winning gin Australia’s gin industry has expanded thanks

Potts said: “We are so thrilled to finally be

to Kings Cross Distillery in Sydney, which has

able to open the venue completely and share

released its flagship product, KXG Australian

our gin creations with the world, following a

Classic Dry Gin.

challenging time for the hospitality industry

The gin is inspired by a 1930s recipe that

in Australia. The colourful and rich history of

distiller and spirit architect Odelia Potts

Sydney’s Kings Cross and its surrounds, are

has adapted. The recipe is a mix of classic

the inspiration behind our vapour infused

London Dry botanicals with the addition

gins. We can’t wait to welcome customers

of fresh Sydney organic lemons and native

to join us in our journey of discovery, as we

myrtles, made with a single shot method and

make history too.”

vapour distillation. Both the gin and the new distillery bar pay

The KXG Australian Classic Dry Gin has already received international recognition.

homage to the vibrant and eclectic past of

The very first batch has taken home a

the distillery site, located at the intersection

silver award at the 2020 London Spirits

of Darlinghurst Road and Macleay Street, by

Competition, recognising the potential of

the iconic Kings Cross fountain. The history

this young brand.

of the location includes a 1960s speakeasy

KXG Australian Classic Dry Gin has

and illegal gambling den, a 1970s adult book

an RRP of $115 for a 700ml bottle.

store, and many hidden secrets that the area

Wholesale enquiries can be made via:

was known for.

manager@kingscrossdistillery.com.au.

Bombay Bramble comes to Australia Bombay Sapphire is bringing its berry flavoured Bombay Bramble gin to Australia. The brand says that flavoured gin is pushing growth in the category by 584 per cent, showing the consumer demand is high. Bombay Bramble fits this brief with its highly crafted, intensive process that uses natural ingredients to capture the essence of fresh blackberries and raspberries. Ivano Tonutti, Bombay Sapphire Master of Botanicals, said: “Launching a flavour expression was always going to take time as it’s important that the taste experience comes purely from natural botanicals and ingredients. This is so we can offer even the most discerning gin drinkers the right balance of fruit flavour without compromising the quality of our core product.” Marketing Director Sarah Nichols added: “Bombay Bramble highlights our own unique approach to the gin category. We have focused on creating a gin that challenges what is possible for a flavoured and coloured expression. The result is a sophisticated, naturally flavoured gin that answers consumer demand while staying true to the core credentials of our brand’s global mission to ‘Stir Creativity’ – with a balanced gin that inspires cocktail experimentation.” Bombay Bramble is 37.5 per cent ABV and has an RRP of $66 – set to launch into the Australian market in late August.

18 | National Liquor News

Marketplace

Giesen 0% launches in Australia Family-owned New Zealand-based Giesen

always looking for alternative products,

Wines has now brought the world’s first

Giesen winemakers challenged themselves

alcohol-removed Marlborough Sauvignon

to fill that gap.

Blanc to the Australian market. Also low in calories, Giesen 0% is crafted

Senior winemaker Duncan Shouler said: “Giesen 0% actually came about following

using the same Marlborough-grown grapes

a fitness challenge at the winery – suddenly,

and winemaking process as the full strength

we couldn’t drink our favourite wine and

variety, with the alcohol gently removed

figured that something had to be done to

through technology that preserves the

make this possible!

flavours and aromas of the Sauvignon Blanc.

“We’re excited for Australians to

With demand for non-alcoholic wine

experience this new, innovative wine and

predicted to increase by 18 per cent by

enjoy the premium taste and quality that

2023, and health conscious consumers are

they expect from Giesen Wines.”

De Bortoli unveils newest wine magic De Bortoli has released a new range

DID YOU KNOW? Giesen 0% has just 16 calories per 125ml glass - that’s 80 per cent less than the same glass of 12.5 per cent ABV wine.

of wines, called Grenache Wizardry, paying homage to the magic skills of winemakers and the versatility of the Grenache grape. Launching with three wines – Grenache 2018, Grenache Blanc 2020 and Grenache Rosé 2019 – the range hopes to inspire consumers to explore Grenache and all it has to offer. Created from vines in the Heathcote region, Chief Winemaker Steve Webber said: “Grenache is certainly up and coming in Australia. While it’s often hidden in blends, we were excited to let it work its magic as a single varietal wine. “These new wines – Grenache, Grenache Blanc and Grenache Rosé – are all wonderfully easy to drink and perfect for those who are looking for a different style of wine, which is lighter, gentler and textured.” With three varieties in the range, Grenache Wizardry offers a little something for everyone and showcases the robust versatility of the grape. Grenache Wizardry is available now through De Bortoli Wines.

August 2020 | 19

Design & Build

Creating a five star retailing experience When Dave Moss set about renovating his liquor store, he wanted to create a shopping experience that was five years ahead of the competition.

Over the past few months, Harry Brown

works. We employed Fardoulys Constructions

Bracken Ridge Tavern has undergone a

to project manage the renovation and ensure

complete renovation that Group Retail

disruption to the customer was minimal.

Manager, Dave Moss, says is five years ahead of what anybody else is doing. Moss is the Group Retail Manager of four Queensland bottle shops that are a part of

“This decision was paramount to the success of the project. Ultimately every bottle and shelf had to be removed three or four times over the course of the renovation.”

Quickfire questions: What was your first job? Driver/Storeman – Regional Wine & Spirits Favourite tipple? Peter Lehmann Bond Shiraz (Exclusive to independent liquor stores)

the Liquor Marketing Group (LMG). Those

Moss says that the idea was to create a

include three Bottlemart stores (Ridge Cellars,

complete five star experience and this was

Carseldine Cellars, Taigum Cellars) and

done by replacing the entire floor and shelving

Deuce Coupe (Beach Boys)

Harry Brown Liquor Bracken Ridge Tavern.

across the entire store and by changing the

Glass half full or half empty?

When considering the renovation, Moss

layout to increase the capacity across beer,

Always half full

said that they were very clear on the direction

wine and spirits.

that they wanted to take. And despite the fact

“When considering our renovation

the world was thrust into a global pandemic

options we were very clear on our direction.

and there was so much uncertainty around

We had to create a modern store that was five

trading, they pushed on and couldn’t be

years ahead of what anyone else was doing

happier with the results.

and we had to focus on creating a shopping

“With a renovation this size you would ideally close the store, but in the current retail liquor environment this was never an option,” Moss told National Liquor News. “For around five weeks we had sections of the shop cordoned off to facilitate flooring 20 | National Liquor News

experience that makes the customers spend more time in the store,” says Moss. “When considering the layout and fixtures of the checkout area, we tried to recreate the feeling one gets when checking out of a five star hotel.

Go to karaoke song? Little

Design & Build

“We are more of a destination store, with a focus on complete ranging and an option to try before you buy on more than 75 premium spirits and wines.” – Dave Moss “The white Caesar stone service counter, LED lighting on every shelf and construction of a new 25 door fridge certainly added to the visual appeal of the store. “The implementation of the tasting bar, upgraded sound system, dedicated Penfolds fine wine display, Vintec wine fridges and wine Enomatic tasting machine has created a memorable and unique shopping experience for our customers. “We are more of a destination store, with a focus on complete ranging and an option to try before you buy on more than 75 premium spirits and wines. Our Penfolds wine selection is one of the largest on the Northside of Brisbane. We also have an extensive supply network and pride ourselves on being able to source almost any product that a customer may be looking for.” Since the renovations have been complete, L-R: Dave Moss with General Manager of the Bracken Ridge Tavern Ben White

the customer feedback has been great. And Moss hopes that Harry Brown Bracken Ridge Tavern can serve as a reminder to consumers that independent liquor stores can be competitive against the chains. “The customer response to the renovated store is extremely positive and the interaction between staff and customers has greatly increased. The main comments tend to be around how good the store presents and the increased ranging. “[We want to change] the public perception that the national chain stores are always cheaper than the independent run stores. As a proudly independent store I can assure the community that more often than not our pricing is competitive and in many cases cheaper that the

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national chains.”

August 2020 | 21

Retail Drinks Australia

Continuing to Build Momentum Michael Waters, the Acting CEO of Retail Drinks Australia, encourages all liquor retailers to consider joining the association.

With Retail Drinks Australia now almost two years

a result of Retail Drinks’ advocacy efforts with state

old, I am delighted to have been recently appointed

and territory governments.

as Acting CEO, taking over the reins from founding

While advocating on behalf of and representing

CEO Julie Ryan, who has done a tremendous job in

the needs and interests of the retail liquor industry

laying such a strong foundation.

is a key focus for Retail Drinks, so too is delivering

I am deeply passionate about the industry, having been incredibly fortunate to have worked with this

effective member services, of which we have been equally focused on in this past year.

organisation in its various capacities for over 11 years,

We have introduced a broad and comprehensive

and am very much looking forward to continuing to

range of new services and benefits designed to help

build on and shape Retail Drinks’ industry leadership

our members run their businesses more efficiently and

well into the future.

effectively, including but not limited to:

The past 12 months has been significant and

• A new website and CRM system, making it easier

unprecedented, and Retail Drinks has demonstrated

for members to access information and resources;

that our role has never been more important to the

• A Member Hotline service, and full time internal

retail liquor industry, achieving a number of key outcomes that have enhanced our members’ freedom to retail responsibly. From a policy and advocacy perspective, liquor retailers right across Australia have benefitted immensely (and dare I say it, many across the entire supply chain) from being able to continue trading

HR Adviser resource to support members; • A leasing and tenancy service, providing free overthe-phone legal guidance and support; • Relaunching the Retail Drinks Business Insurance Program; • The Liquor Retailer Handbook, a comprehensive online resource for liquor retailers;

during the lockdown restrictions imposed as a

• A range of free health checks for members;

result of COVID-19. Retail Drinks worked closely

• The inaugural national Liquor Retail Summit and

with the Commonwealth Government to achieve this outcome of liquor retail being classified as an essential service.

Retail Drinks Industry Awards; and • A new electricity service, which has helped save members an average of $3,700 on their energy bills.

We also successfully advocated for well over $5 million

Retail Drinks is your national unified industry body,

in annual liquor licence fee waivers to support packaged

proactively working to ensure a stronger, more inclusive

liquor retailers through the COVID-19 pandemic.

united voice for industry that is truly representative of

In the e-commerce space, the Retail Drinks Online

all of Australia’s packaged liquor retailers.

Alcohol Sale and Delivery Code of Conduct continues

Being a member not only gives you skin in the game

to generate plaudits among policy makers throughout

and the opportunity for your voice to be heard, but it

the country and abroad as an example of best-practice,

gives you access to many services that can directly and

industry self-regulation.

indirectly benefit your business and I would encourage

Liquor retailers in multiple jurisdictions have also seen their permitted trading hours increase as 22 | National Liquor News

those who are not yet members to get in touch to discuss how we can support you better.

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“The past 12 months has been significant and unprecedented, and Retail Drinks has demonstrated that our role has never been more important to the retail liquor industry.” Michael Waters Acting CEO Retail Drinks Australia

Alcohol Beverages Australia

Pregnancy labelling shows we need to develop a better approach with bureaucrats Industry engagement needs to improve with regulatory advice setting bodies so that we become regarded as a trusted adviser, writes Alcohol Beverages Australia CEO, Andrew Wilsmore.

With a value chain stretching from primary production

This generated a figure that five per cent (17,338

and farming through to retail and hospitality sales and

babies annually) of all births in Australia have FASD,

as one of the most heavily regulated sectors of the

when the available evidence puts the actual figure at

economy, our industry and its representative bodies

between 0.01 per cent to 0.05 per cent – or in real

invests considerable resources to participating in a

numbers, between 31 and 157 FASD births a year.

range of Government and parliamentary reviews.

On costs, the bureaucrats generated a number

The general approach to our participation in these

that was substantially less than industry calculated

reviews starts with well researched evidence-based

and nearly half what previous studies conducted by

submissions and concludes with representing our

them had shown. Costs are more than simple colour

points with integrity and honesty.

and printing plate changes as suggested by FSANZ,

Bureaucrats in carrying out their responsibilities

but encompass the full costs of packaging and costs

and providing advice should have mind to

involved in legal compliance advice, the graphic

proportionate regulation principles. Working from

design costs of a label change, and changes in brand

an initial position against new or increased regulation

collateral. These costs are also not one-off and are

when presenting a case for government intervention,

ongoing, due to additional printing plates and colours.

advice to Ministers must be proportionate to the

Instead, bureaucrats determined that industry

problem and that additional regulation will wholly

did not understand its own costs but accepted those

or partly achieve the objective.

provided by leading anti-alcohol activist group FARE;

For reasons presently unknown, these principles

ignored packaging costs altogether; and sought to

do not seem to have been applied on pregnancy

question and effectively undermine our estimates in

labelling advice, with industry submissions ignored

their review and report.

and unscrupulous calculations of both costs and

This can have significant implications in the

benefits used to justify the most expensive of

accuracy of advice provided to Ministers. A telling

labelling options.

example of this is FSANZ assertion that the majority

The bureaucrats at the Food Regulation

of labels are digitally printed. A simple phone call

Standing Committee (FRSC – managed by the

to any industry body could have confirmed this was

Federal Department of Health) ignored prestigious

not the case.

international journals and specific Australian studies,

With such enormous implications on producers

and instead concocted modelling of Australians Foetal

and retailers, clearly our engagement needs to improve

Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) rates based off a

with these important regulatory advice setting bodies

single study in a small midwestern US town.

so that we become regarded as a trusted adviser.

■

“The general approach to our participation in these reviews starts with well researched evidence-based submissions and concludes with representing our points with integrity and honesty.” Andrew Wilsmore CEO Alcohol Beverages Australia

August 2020 | 23

DrinkWise

Australians continue to make safer and healthier alcohol choices The drinking habits of Australians are continuing to move in a positive direction, writes Simon Strahan, CEO, DrinkWise.

Every three years, the Australian Institute of Health

Although the AIHW research was undertaken

and Welfare (AIHW) release their National Drug

prior to COVID-19, the DrinkWise COVID-19

Strategy Household Survey data. This research

drinking habits research found that on average, those

examines Australians’ previous and current tobacco,

drinking were still doing so within the recommended

alcohol and illicit drug use.

government guidelines. Drinkers were averaging just

The recently released AIHW data, collected in

over eight standard drinks in total consumption over

2019, reinforces the trends we have been seeing in

the course of a week. Importantly, those drinking had

DrinkWise’s own research – and reaffirms the fact

also consciously been taking care of their physical

that Australians are drinking more responsibly than

and mental health during isolation, with 77 per cent

ever before.

maintaining or doing more exercise and 73 per cent

Importantly, AIHW found those drinking at

taking specific action to maintain their mental health.

risky levels have decreased from 17.2 per cent in

COVID-19 presents a continuing challenge for

2016 to 16.8 per cent in 2019 for lifetime risk and

all Australians. Recognising this, DrinkWise has

for single occasion risky drinkers, a decline from

produced a number of education initiatives. The latest

25.7 per cent in 2016 to 24.8 per cent in 2019. The

of these is the Bounce Back podcast, which showcases

research recognised that 54 per cent of Australians

how well-known Aussies have faced challenges in

are choosing to adopt healthier drinking behaviours

their lives and overcome them with support, providing

to protect their health.

a message to those in our community feeling stressed

DrinkWise encourages abstinence for at-risk

and anxious to reach out for help.

groups, including pregnant women and minors.

DrinkWise will continue to maintain a focus on

In 2019, 65 per cent of women abstained during

encouraging moderation for those who choose to

pregnancy, up from 55.6 per cent in 2016. There has

consume alcohol, working with our industry and

also been a vast shift in abstinence rates among minors

community partners to ensure this messaging reaches

over the last decade, from 39.1 per cent in 2007 to 72.5

Australians in a targeted and effective manner.

per cent in 2019. For both of these groups, our goal is to achieve 100 per cent abstinence. Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) is caused by consumption during pregnancy. Understanding these risks is a matter for all Australians, which is why education initiatives like our DrinkWise FASD Awareness Program are so important. Similarly, it is essential we continue to focus on parents’ roles as influencers and role models in their children’s lives when it comes to alcohol. As a nation, these results show that Australians are choosing to adopt healthier and safer drinking behaviours and are taking notice of how much and how often they are consuming alcohol. 24 | National Liquor News

■

“The recently released AIHW data, collected in 2019, reinforces the trends we have been seeing in DrinkWise’s own research – and reaffirms the fact that Australians are drinking more responsibly than ever before.” Simon Strahan CEO DrinkWise

Wine Australia

Wine Australia examines vintage 2020 The 2020 vintage will be highly sought after for its quality and scarcity writes Sandy Hathaway, Analyst, Wine Australia.

Putting an end to months of speculation, the official

Historical crush

estimate of the 2020 Australian winegrape crush has

Crush

Yield

2500

been published by Wine Australia and is a respectable

16.00

1.52 million tonnes – the equivalent of more than one

terms of yield (tonnes per hectare) it was more like

12.00

10.00

1500

2010, when the crush was a bit higher, but so was the vineyard area (see Figure 1).

8.00

1000

6.00

A smaller crop was widely anticipated, given the dry conditions affecting much of Australia, compounded by

4.00 500

windy conditions during flowering, bushfires and smoke damage in some regions as well as isolated frost, hail and flood events. These difficult conditions inevitably

Yield t/ha

Although it was the smallest crop since 2007, in

Crush in '000 tonnes

billion litres of wine.

14.00 2000

2.00

2010

2011

2012

took their toll on crop potential; however, ideal ripening

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

0.00

Figure 1: Australian winegrape crush and average yield 2005–2020

and harvesting conditions in autumn combined with reduced yields are expected to produce wines that are

Meanwhile in the whites, Chardonnay remained

highly sought after for their quality and scarcity.

the number one variety but declined by 19 per cent, while Prosecco and Pinot Gris/Grigio were the only

Crush by colour and variety

top 10 whites not to decrease in volume. Riesling

While most varieties declined in volume overall,

suffered the biggest decrease – down 28 per cent

reds fared better than whites. Durif and Ruby

and dropping below Muscat à Petits Grains Blancs to

Cabernet in particular increased in volume against the general trend, which is likely to reflect changes in consumer demand. The estimated crush of Durif has more than doubled in five years, with growing demand for the variety reflected in the export figures. Australian exports of Durif increased by six per cent in 2019, driven by growth in exports to the United States of America, which accounted for 34 per cent of all Durif exports and grew by 22 per cent. In a further sign that consumer tastes are expanding, the average value of Grenache grapes from McLaren Vale in 2020 was higher than Shiraz for the first time ever.

“Durif and Ruby Cabernet in particular increased in volume against the general trend, which is likely to reflect changes in consumer demand.” Sandy Hathaway Analyst Wine Australia

eighth place in the top 10.

A very long tail The top 10 red and top 10 white varieties together accounted for 95 per cent of the total crush in 2020. The remaining 68,942 tonnes were made up of a further 63 red and 51 white varieties. A few to watch among these ‘alternative’ varieties based on their growth over the past four years are Carmenere, Lambrusco and Rubired in the reds, and Arneis, Assyrtiko and Savagnin in the whites. The full National Vintage Report 2020 can be found at www.wineaustralia.com.

■

August 2020 | 25

Spirits & Cocktails Australia

Distillers call for excise relief Freezing the tax increases that would otherwise impede the recovery and growth of the distilling and hospitality sectors is a no-brainer, writes Spirits & Cocktails Australia CEO, Greg Holland.

As spirits producers, bars and hospitality venues

licensed venue in Australia so we encourage venues to

across the country face the looming threat of further

COVID-19 outbreaks, it is more important than ever

With the lingering threat of COVID-19 creating so

that we work together to create COVID-safe spaces

much uncertainty within the economy, we have heard

for consumers to enjoy our products and the company

a great deal from our political leaders about how we

of friends and family.

must all work together to overcome this challenge.

The recent outbreak in a Western Sydney venue

That is why Spirits & Cocktails Australia is working

is a poignant reminder of the virulent nature of

hard to ensure the Government understands the

this virus. While Australia has largely avoided the

adverse impact that further alcohol tax increases will

catastrophic scenes of Italy, the UK and US, we are

have on spirits producers and the hospitality sector

far from immune from further outbreaks which

ahead of the next scheduled excise adjustment to

could see lockdowns reinstated as they have been in

CPI in August, and the postponed Federal Budget

Victoria. This is a situation we should all be committed

in October 2020.

to avoiding through vigilance and strict adherence to COVID-19 health and safety protocols.

At $86.90 per pure litre of alcohol, Australia already has the world’s third highest spirits tax, which impacts

Spirits & Cocktails Australia member, Bundaberg

consumer choice and has the unintended effect of

Rum, recently launched its $11.5 million ‘Raising

limiting ongoing development of an industry with

the Bar’ initiative – part of a US$100 million-

significant tourism, hospitality and trade potential.

dollar commitment from parent company Diageo

While no one could foresee the catastrophic impact

– to assist pubs and bars as they reopen following

of the summer bushfires and COVID-19 pandemic

COVID-19 closures.

on our industry, alcohol tax increases are predictable

The programme offers free access to digital

and firmly within the Government’s control.

training through Diageo Bar Academy and funding

If we are, as our leaders like to tell us, ‘all in this

for equipment to assist with reopening, including

together,’ then freezing the tax increases that would

hand sanitiser dispensers and temperature scanners,

otherwise impede the recovery and growth of the

contactless booking and payment systems, mobile

distilling and hospitality sectors is a no-brainer.

bars and heaters to utilise outdoor spaces, and

Spirits & Cocktails Australia will continue to deliver

takeaway packages for environmentally friendly

this message to the Federal Government as we face

cocktail carriers. The programme is available to any

the COVID challenge together.

26 | National Liquor News

■

“Spirits & Cocktails Australia is working hard to ensure the Government understands the adverse impact that further alcohol tax increases will have on spirits producers and the hospitality sector.” Greg Holland CEO Spirits & Cocktails Australia

Strikeforce

Who shops your store? Understanding shopper types and planning the right type of activation in the right location will increase revenue and drive shopper loyalty, writes Stephen Wilson, Category & Insights Manager, Strikeforce. The average bottle shop features hundreds of brands across the store at any given time. How a retailer positions categories in-store and

• The Explorer: has some discretionary spend available and is open to making an incremental purchase or trying something new.

where they position brands within each category

• The Treasurer: the targeted shopper. Has a

setting can have a significant influence on the

predetermined shopping list and limited spend.

shopper’s purchasing decision.

Open to brand substitution if this means more bang

We sometimes assume that shoppers have the same

for their buck.

mission and shop the same way when they enter the

• The Researcher: is an avid fan of catalogues. Highly

store. These assumptions can lead to lost opportunity.

engaged and planned. As the name suggests has

Drinkers shop differently and by occasion – some

researched well before heading out to purchase.

have already made their purchase decision before they

Difficult to shift from their mission but can be swayed

enter the store. They walk straight to the chiller, pick up their desired purchase and exit the store in just a few minutes.

by deep discounting featured on bold displays. • The Disengaged: completely unplanned and unprepared. They know the fridge is bare and are

Drinkers looking for premium brands may have

shopping under sufferance. They are attracted by

researched the category well before entering the store

‘bright and shiny’ displays that are suggestive in

but have still yet to make a considered purchase,

nature and provide an easy shopping solution.

taking them much longer to arrive at a decision.

So, understanding the core shopper types for

Where and how a retailer positions brands can

specific brands should drive the in-store location,

have a significant influence on whether they can be

type of display, on shelf/fridge location and price

encouraged to trade up to a higher value purchase.

proposition to entice purchase. Understanding the brand objective will also help

Here are a few types of shopper to consider:

drive sales. For example, a new product which has a

• The Missionary: focused, makes a beeline to their

prime objective of creating trial should be positioned

brand. As the name suggests they are on a mission

in a prominent position on the floor in a high traffic

to make the quickest purchase possible, usually time

area of the store to attract The Wanderer, The Explorer,

poor and views shopping as a necessary evil.

The Treasurer and The Disengaged.

• The Wanderer: plenty of time on their hands,

Understanding your shopper types and planning

ambles into the store, probably doesn’t have a

the right type of activation in the right location will

shopping list and is open to persuasion.

increase revenue and drive shopper loyalty.

“Where and how a retailer positions brands can have a significant influence on whether they can be encouraged to trade up to a higher value purchase.” Stephen Wilson Category & Insights Manager Strikeforce

■

August 2020 | 27

Shopper Intelligence

Pink sky at night, shoppers delight! David Shukri, Senior Insight Director, Shopper Intelligence, examines how retailers can make rosé shine brighter this summer. Enjoying a glass of rosé has become quite

their preferred choice in stock. There is room

the trend in recent times. Check your social

for improvement here but bear in mind that

media today and you may well see a ‘rosé all

rosé also scores lowest for the importance of

day’ post from a trendy looking millennial.

availability. It is the most impulsive category

Older drinkers too are embracing the pink

of all, and shoppers often have more than one

revolution. Shoppers over 55 today account

brand in mind.

for half of those buying rosé off-premise. Still,

Range and layout are in fact the two areas

for all its popularity, the category ranks only

requiring the most attention from retailers

29th out of 32 in-stores for overall shopper

and suppliers in the rosé category. The

satisfaction. So why does it struggle to meet

combination of these factors is interesting and

shopper expectations?

shows where the challenge in the category lies.

There’s a close correlation between

‘Range’ refers to a good choice of products

shopper satisfaction and sales performance.

in the category. ‘Layout’ talks to how readily

Higher satisfaction categories tend to enjoy

shoppers can find what they’re looking for

higher sales. When sales are growing but

once they are standing at the fixture. The

satisfaction lags, the category could be doing

issue here is with navigation. Shoppers are

even better. So, the fact rosé ranks as one of

struggling at the shelf to find the products

the worst categories for shopper satisfaction

they want. In fact, this category ranks third

is a big deal.

out of 32 for shoppers’ desire to see better

It’s important to put this in perspective.

signage at shelf.

Rosé performs better than the average wine

By making the category easier to shop, there

category on product measures. They include

is a great opportunity for it to enjoy even more

things like delivery of healthy choices and

growth than it has to date. It’s a strong basket

premium options, both of which are hot topics

builder and shoppers are especially open to

in liquor right now. It also outperforms other

buying an extra item in rosé because they want

wine varietals in terms of overall product

to try something different. Help them explore

quality. This is good news given quality

the range and the sales should follow.

outranks price to be the most important factor to rosé shoppers.

There are a few months to go before peak rosé season returns. Instagram will again be

Yet there are aspects that could be

awash with pink wine sipped at sundown.

improved. Rosé receives the lowest score

Now’s the time to put shoppers at the heart

on availability of any category in the store.

of the conversation and ensure your brand is

Shoppers feel they are often unable to find

the one they’re sipping!

28 | National Liquor News

■

Shopper Intelligence

In the next issue… The September issue of National Liquor News will feature our annual rosé tasting. As our tasting panel prepares to judge the most exciting rosé available right now, we take a look back at the top three scoring wines from 2019. Taylor Made Pinot Noir Rosé Region: Adelaide Hills VIN: 2018 LUC: $18.28 Distributed by: Taylors Wines

“Very complex, crunchy, refreshing and well balanced.” – Renée Foster

Rogers and Rufus Grenache Rosé Region: Barossa VIN: 2018 LUC: $15.59 Distributed by: Samuel Smith & Son

“Lovely savoury nose, delicate flavours of wild strawberry. Lively and refined with a pleasant finish.” – Amy Hayes

La La Land Rosé Region: Victoria VIN: 2017 LUC: $10.54 Distributed by: Red+White

“A really well made rosé with layers of complexity, roundness and a savoury edge.” – Andrew Stubbs

August 2020 | 29

Father’s Day

Three cheers for Dad!

As we approach Father’s Day we take a look at some of the newest releases that are sure to be a hit with Dad.

Coopers 2020 Vintage Ale Coopers has released the 20th in its series of Vintage Ales just in time for Father’s Day. The Coopers 2020 Vintage Ale features Leabrook barley, named after the former site of the sixth generation Australian family-owned brewery. Coopers Marketing and Innovation Director, Cam Pearce, said: “While a carton of Vintage 2020 would make a perfect gift for Dad, it’s equally appealing to anyone who appreciates a great tasting beer,” Pearce said. Coopers 2020 Vintage Ale is the 20th in the series of Vintage Ales that commenced in 1998. Like all Coopers ales, the 2020 Vintage Ale undergoes secondary fermentation and natural conditioning. It retains an alcohol level of 7.5 per cent ABV. Distributed by Coopers

The Balvenie Stories ‘The Sweet Toast of American Oak’

McGuigan Hand Made Shiraz

Part of the coveted Balvenie

The Balvenie aged in ex-Bourbon

‘Stories’ range – a collection

barrels. The result is a delectably

released to highlight and bring to

complex whisky with notes of

life the many unique and varied

candied fruit, coconut and

stories that emanate from The

delicate vanilla.

Balvenie distillery. The Balvenie

Drinkers can listen to the story

Stories ‘The Sweet Toast of

behind the creation of The Sweet

McGuigan Hand Made Shiraz 2016 is the perfect

American Oak’ tells the story of

Toast of American Oak via a

Father’s Day gift for wine lovers seeking to mark

Apprentice Malt Master Kelsey

specially recorded podcast series by

the occasion.

McKechnie’s inspiration to produce

the curators of the liquid. They can

an even fruitier, sweeter Balvenie,

access this audio content via a QR

found in South Australia’s Langhorne Creek,

and her idea to import Virgin Oak

code on the bottle, which can be

McGuigan Hand Made embodies the winemaker’s

barrels from Kentucky. After deep

activated using their smartphones.

craft of blending, where multiple parcels of wine,

toasting them at The Balvenie

each offering different characters, are combined

Cooperage they were filled with

Sourced from the diverse soils and climates

to create a synergy where the whole is greater than the sum of the parts. A super-premium Shiraz made in limited quantities, this full-bodied yet elegant wine is defined by its rich savoury fruit and minerality, featuring notes of blackberries and dark cherry, the fine supple tannins ensuring a long lingering finish. This is a wine perfectly matched with rich red meats such as slow cooked beef fillet and that will develop in the bottle for the next 10 years. Distributed by Australian Vintage Limited 30 | National Liquor News

Aged 12 Years – 43% ABV Distributed by William Grant & Sons

Father’s Day

Ferngrove Black Label Malbec A dry and full-bodied, Malbec pairs well with food and is known for plump, dark fruit flavours and smoky finish. This up and coming variety has proven perfectly suited to Western Australia’s Great Southern cool climate. Ferngrove’s 2018 Black Label Malbec has championed this variety having been awarded trophies at the prestigious Royal Adelaide Wine Show, The Royal Perth Wine Show and the National Cool Climate Wine Show, along with eight Gold Medals. The palate is deep and alluring with mulberry, dark plums with a hint of mocha oak spice and fennel. A long, fine tannin finish complements the wine. “I have always felt that the Great Southern region, and

St Hugo, Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon

particularly Frankland River, can produce some of the best

St Hugo Coonawarra Cabernet

style that is dedicated to the region and delicious to drink,”

Sauvignon is created to honour the

commented Ferngrove’s Chief Winemaker Craig Grafton.

bond between a father and a son.

Distributed by Ferngrove Wine Group

Malbec’s in the country. We believe in making Malbec in a

Hugo Gramp came from excellent winemaking pedigree and not only but also understood the secrets

Jacob’s Creek Double Barrel Shiraz

of making it. It was this prodigious

Jacob’s Creek Double Barrel Shiraz

talent and wisdom that he passed

is unique, finished differently in aged

on to his son, Colin. Since the first

whisky barrels making it the ideal wine

vintage of 1980, every vintage of

to spoil Dad this Father’s Day. It is a

St Hugo has been honoured gold.

premium and delicious red wine that

St Hugo is a promise of excellence

boasts a smoother, deeper and richer

and homage to love.

taste. Perfect to cheers Dad or enjoy

Distributed by Pernod Ricard

over a meal with family and friends.

had an appreciation for fine wine,

Distributed by Pernod Ricard

Personalised Glenfiddich Glenfiddich continues to offer shoppers the

The programme is available

opportunity to add a unique personal touch

year-round and can be created for

to the world’s most awarded single malt

any bottle of Glenfiddich purchased in

Scotch whiskies.

Australia up to and including Glenfiddich

Now in its second year, Glenfiddich’s

21 Year Old. It has recently also been

personalised labels give all Australian retailers

updated to include Glenfiddich’s new

the opportunity to capture this shopper trend

bottle and the Experimental Series

in their store for Father’s Day and beyond.

Fire & Cane.

Point of Sale is available from William Grant

Glenfiddich personalised labels

& Sons and shoppers are simply directed

are prefect for any message and for

to www.gflabels.com.au where labels are

any occasion.

created and dispatched by post.

Distributed by William Grant & Sons

August 2020 | 31

Spotlight: Liqueurs

That’s the

spirit With everyone spending more time at home these days, consumers want to step up their drinks game. So we’ve compiled a selection of our favourite liqueurs along with some cocktail recipes to help you boost your liqueur sales.

Licor 43 Horchata Disaronno 20% ABV, 700ml, RRP: $49.99, Italy Disaronno is flavoured by a combination of herbs and spices that are then soaked in apricot kernel oil. The final product is delightfully rich yet delicate. DISARONNO is versatile, adding a

16% ABV, 700ml, RSP $39.99, Spain Licor 43 Horchata is a fusion of Licor 43 Original and traditional Horchata from Valencia, Spain. Licor 43 Horchata is a new liqueur elaborated with a 100 per cent vegetal base, with no lactose or milk protein content and suitable for vegans. Licor 43 Horchata is a creamy but light liqueur with a surprisingly refreshing taste of tiger nut in harmony with spice and citrus aromas and a subtle floral finish. Horchata is a traditional Spanish beverage with a long history and tradition of

unique touch to create innovative,

Mediterranean origin. It is a refreshing cool drink made from tiger nuts, blended

sophisticated and quality drinks.

with sugar, and sometimes flavoured with cinnamon and lemon. Dairy free, nut

From humble beginnings as a thank you gift, today DISARONNO enjoys true style status as the world’s favourite Italian liqueur, And, with over 100 perfect mixes to suit your mood, the brand and fan base continues to grow on a journey of multi-sensory discovery. Distributed by Spirits Platform

Disaronno Fizz

free, gluten free and vegan, Licor 43 Horchata is a great alternative for those who have dietary restrictions but who also love cream liqueurs. It is recommended to serve Licor 43 Horchata chilled (between 0°-5°C): shake the bottle and pour over ice. Simple and delicious! Tip: Keep Licor 43 Horchata chilled in the fridge (not the freezer). Distributed by Spirits Platform

Valencian Summer Cocktail Ingredients: • 50 ml Licor 43 Horchata

Ingredients:

• 50 ml hot espresso

• 45ml Disaronno

• Almond milk foam

• Fresh lemon juice

• Cinnamon powder

• Soda or Sparkling Water

Method:

• Pour 50 ml of Licor 43 Horchata into the glass

• In a wine glass, pour Disaronna over

• Pour the espresso carefully into the glass to

ice, add a squeeze of fresh lemon juice, and top up with soda water • Stir and garnish with lemon zest

32 | National Liquor News

create a layer, heat almond milk with the steam nozzle to get foam and finish off the cup with it • Garnish with cinnamon powder

Spotlight: Liqueurs

Moreau Apple Pie Liqueur

Cointreau

21% ABV, 200ml, RRP: $30; 700ml, RRP: $75, Australia

40% ABV, 700ml, RRP: $49.95, France

Sydney’s new kid on the block, Mobius Distilling Co, has just been announced as a Gold Medal winner at the London Spirits Competition for its Moreau Apple Pie Liqueur. Based in Sydney’s Inner West, Mobius

De Kuyper Royal Distillers

Balance, moments, pleasure, style – even in its

Distilling Co. was founded by friends Philip

De Kuyper Royal Distillers

creation. The clear

Crossley and Alex Hardie.

has turned 325 this

liqueur was born

year and continue to

out of the inspired

Dry Gin’ and ‘38 Special’ vodka, the Moreau

lead the worldwide

idea to combine

Apple Pie Liqueur is Mobius Distillery Co.’s first

cocktail liqueur market by

sweet and bitter

foray into something a little more avant-garde,

continuously innovating in

orange peels. This

and the Gold medal is an indication they’re on to

accordance with its ‘Own

combination affords Cointreau its unique

a good thing. The versatility of the spirit means

the Cocktail’ vision.

and delicate taste, the perfect balance

Having already crafted the ‘2204 Marrickville

it not only tastes great neat – cold or warmed

The brand continues to

of sweetness and freshness.

up – but is an excellent base for cocktails,

inspire bartenders through

The Cointreau recipe has retained its

whether made by professional bartenders, or the

programs such as De

original authenticity since its creation.

experimental mixologist at home.

Kuyper The Works, which has

Cointreau continues to be the world’s

The pair take the provenance of their

seen the likes of Salvatore

leading premium orange liqueur and

ingredients seriously. The Moreau Apple Pie

Calabrese (pictured) and

enjoys a longstanding presence across

Liqueur is made from apples sourced from the

many more collaborate

the five continents. Its superior quality

family-owned Bellevue Orchard in Victoria,

to upskill Australian

makes it a favourite amongst bartenders

each 700ml bottle containing pressed cold

bartenders. Secondly,

and has earned it a place in the most

juice from 12 apples, all preservative and

demystifying cocktails

influential and respected bars around

concentrate-free. Vanilla sourced from

by making them more

the world.

Tonga adds a subtle creamy flavour, while

accessible for consumers

the spiciness of cinnamon provides balance,

through education and

the Margarita cocktail and Cointreau

resulting in a smooth, lingering finish – in

retail programs.

have enjoyed an intrinsic relationship

essence, a warm pastry flavour reminiscent of

Distributed by Bacardi-

since 1948. As the cocktail’s creator

‘Grandma’s home-made apple pie’ – in a glass.

Martini Australia

Margarete ‘Margarita’ Sames famously

Distributed by Mobius Distilling Co.

One of the most classic yet famous,

said of her instantly iconic drink: “A margarita without Cointreau is not worth its salt”. To celebrate the award, Mobius Distilling Co is offering a special opportunity for the off-premise to find out more about the brand.

Distributed by Spirits Platform

Cointreau Margarita Ingredients: • 30ml Cointreau

With every six cases of Moreau

• 30ml Blanco Tequila

Apple Pie purchased, the team

• 30ml Lime Juice

will visit the store for an in-house tasting session; for every four

Method: • Combine all ingredients

cases bought, they will throw in a

over ice into a shaker

complementary bottle for sampling.

• Shake well until chilled • Strain into a chilled glass

August 2020 | 33

Health and Wellbeing

Less is more Australian consumers are looking for beverages that suit their contemporary lifestyles. Brydie Allen discovers how producers are filling this demand. While trends come and go, and tastes change with

In the past, the beverage options of this kind that

the seasons, one of the significant recent shifts in

were available have been extremely limited, and often

consumer behaviour has been the rise of ‘mindful

simply didn’t shape up to others. But now, thanks to

drinking’.

innovation and continued product development, the

The idea behind this change largely comes from people ‘drinking less but better,’ and has grown

amount of ‘better for you’ beverages on offer is huge and of high quality.

demand for beverages with lower sugar, lower calories,

As James Purcell, Brand Lead at Matso’s Broome

low or no alcohol, as well as those that are gluten free

Brewery, said: “It’s a clear trend that more and more of

or contain more natural ingredients.

us are conscious of what we’re putting into our body

Across the country, producers are responding to

– and that’s a good thing.

these demands with a range of different products

“A growing number of drinkers are looking for

that fit the consumer desire for something a little

options that fall into a ‘better for you’ category, and that

‘healthier’. And while these types of beverages aren’t

means lower sugar, lower calorie, no artificial flavours

health products, they do allow for consumers to have

or preservatives, vegan friendly, low or no gluten, and

more options should they be conscious of their intake

more. That said, we don’t want to sacrifice on taste and

of something – from sugar, calories or alcohol, to any

flavour to do so. Like other areas of our life, many of

number of ingredients.

us want to have it all.”

34 | National Liquor News

Health and Wellbeing

Alcohol free There are a lot of reasons that consumers look for alcohol free products – from pregnancy, to being the designated driver, to having an allergy, or simply just not wanting to drink. Whatever the reason, people who aren’t drinking alcohol don’t necessarily just want to drink water or soft drink. As Samantha Manning, the founder of non-alcoholic RTD producer Monday Distillery, said, people look for “something that is adult-like, sophisticated and packaged beautifully”. This is why Manning created Monday Distillery, to give someone who isn’t drinking an easy option that mimics the experience of having a mixed drink. “For me it was about creating a premix option that was grab and go, so that if you were choosing

The power and popularity of non-alcoholic

to be the designated driver, or you were on a

beverages is also seen in the beer category, with

health kick, or you were pregnant – you could

brands big and small offering something for all

still have something nice in your hand,” Manning

different types of shoppers.

told National Liquor News.

For example, Heineken, distributed by Lion

“It’s definitely not the end of liquor, it’s

in Australia, has seen great results with its first

just about being able to offer [non-alcoholic

alcohol-free beer Heineken 0.0, after it launched in

products] for a customer because at the moment,

the country last year. A spokesperson for Lion said

there’s nothing there at all. That’s where the

the non-alcoholic drinks sector is booming because

opportunity is being created for brands like us

it gives people their favourite drinking experiences,

to come through.”

without some of their least favourite parts.

This idea about having something for

“The alcohol-free nature of Heineken 0.0

everyone is echoed by iconic Australian

gives beer drinkers more choice, opening up new

winemaker McGuigan from Australian

occasions for consumption, so now you can enjoy a

Vintage Limited, especially considering its

great-tasting beer when you want a beer but not the

non-alcoholic wine range, McGuigan Zero.

alcohol that comes with it,” the spokesperson said.

Marketing Director Scott Burton, said the

“We expect the low and no alcohol segment

trend is accelerating rapidly on a global scale,

of Australia to follow global trends and continue

so it’s important to respond to the needs of all

to grow.”

consumer types. “People want to enjoy the occasion and not feel like the taste is second best. Consumers now have a clear choice without substituting quality, that’s what our wine delivers,” Burton said.

“It’s about offering consumer choice – we are focused on putting the consumer at the heart of our business – so the move into the zero-alcohol category was a natural fit for the trusted McGuigan brand and an example of our innovation to drive category growth.” – Scott Burton, Marketing Director, Australian Vintage Limited

McGuigan too expects the category to continue its popularity, and is investing more in building across the market accordingly. What this shows is that the non-alcoholic sector is not a passing fad, nor one that props up

“It’s about offering consumer choice – we are

and down according to the latest Dry July style

focused on putting the consumer at the heart of

campaign. As Manning said, sales from Monday

our business – so the move into the zero-alcohol

Distillery shows there’s longevity in the category.

category was a natural fit for the trusted McGuigan

“You’ve got so many months now where people

brand and an example of our innovation to drive

are kind of marketing non-alcoholic in that space,

category growth.”

whereas I actually find that our sales are consistent August 2020 | 35

Health and Wellbeing

“Drinkers are telling us there are times when they want to have fun, but not throw away their healthy lifestyle and active achievements at the same time. So it’s important to have options available for these drinkers.” – James Purcell, Brand Lead, Matso’s Broome Brewery

and it’s kind of showing that there’s people

The pair also said that seltzer appeals to

beverages that fit the trend. Like with the

who are wanting an alternative when they

sugar and calorie conscious drinkers of all

non-alcoholic sector, Purcell said it’s all

don’t want to drink,” Manning said.

types, rather than being seen as made for

about being inclusive to all consumer types.

one demographic.

Low sugar and calories

“Drinkers are telling us there are times

“Being a Seltzer, it also enabled us to

when they want to have fun, but not throw away

A mindfulness about how much sugar and

position the product as more gender neutral,

their healthy lifestyle and active achievements

calories are in alcoholic beverages has grown

providing both males and females with

at the same time. So it’s important to have

significantly as of late. And a category that is

something they could confidently hold in

options available for these drinkers.”

set to explode because of this is hard seltzer.

their hand as an easy-drinking, ‘better for

Alcoholic carbonated water has been a

you’ drink option,” Lust Liquor said.

Matso’s Hard Lemon has done well in this space for a while, and is now joined by new

huge trend in the US and in the past year has

“We don’t think mindful drinking means

flavours, Hard Berry and Hard Melon. Using

begun to enter the Australian market too.

abstinence for the young drinking market

real fruit flavour not only creates the much

First with Quincy from Lion, which will also

(18-25 years), nor do we think this market

loved refreshing taste, but also means there is

bring the market-leading White Claw seltzer

desires low ABV products. What we do think

less sugar overall than other premix drinks.

from America later this year. And also with

is happening is that consumers over the age

several other producers, big and small.

of 25 are adopting more occasion-based

Gluten free and philosophy

One of those is Lust Liquor, which has

drinking and reduce/eliminate consumption

The gluten free product sphere has exploded

just built onto the success of its vodka based

outside key dates and events, or sticking to

in recent years, and gluten free options of

RTDs with the release of its first alcoholic

the weekend rather than during the week.

many of our favourite foods are now readily

brewed seltzer.

It’s more about cutting down than cutting

available. Gluten free brewer O’Brien Beer

out and the ‘better for you option’ gives you

says we’re approaching this same level of

more room to move.”

normalcy for drinks too, and there’s many

In creating the new Lime & Soda Seltzer, Lust Founders Marc Lindberg and Nick Rowell, said they wanted: “To provide

Outside of seltzer, other RTD producers

consumers with a drink they don’t have

also understand the importance of having

Mark Davidson, Marketing Manager,

to worry about in terms of packing in the

low calorie and low sugar options. Matso’s

said: “Gluten free products are becoming

calories and a product that represents them.

Brewery from Gage Roads is one, recently

more mainstream as people look to reduce,

We say it’s ‘guilt free socialising’.”

expanding its range to include two new

if not eliminate, gluten in their diets.”

36 | National Liquor News

things driving the change.

Health and Wellbeing

O’Brien Beer is created from ‘ancient grains,’ the original versions of the modified barley and wheat found in regular beer. Not only are these gluten free grains safely consumed by those with allergies or intolerances, Davidson said they’re generally higher in some minerals, proteins and antioxidants, making gluten free beer have a great taste and different impact on the stomach. “From a beer perspective specifically, our most common feedback from consumers of O’Brien gluten free beers, apart from their specific comments about taste, is that they feel less bloated after drinking them,” Davidson explained. But having a product that is seen as a ‘better for you’ option isn’t just about ticking

Drinks and beyond

one box – Davidson said it also extends into

As Purcell points out: “Mindful

the philosophy of the beverage.

drinking isn’t a trend that’s come

At Lust Liquor they too see the consumer

about overnight.”

demand as driven by lifestyle choices, rather

is less processed, is made with more care and

Consumers have been increasingly

than a clear cut definition of exactly what

uses traditional methods. Also, that these

thinking about the implications of their

things to consume. They said: “Consumers

drinks reward you with authentic, natural

shopping across not only the drinks

want to drink brands that hold similar

flavours while drinking them, and leave you

industry, but all areas of consumption,

standards to themselves and ‘better for you’

“There is an expectation that the beverage

feeling good after consuming them. They’re part of a lifestyle, not just part of a ‘diet’,” he said.

and it extends beyond thoughts of health too. Mindful consumption will continue to affect Australia’s retail landscape across all sectors, as people think of health, locality, brand

L-R: Marc Lindberg and Nick Rowell, Founders of Lust Liquor Photo credit: Charlie Baker – Baker Media

values and ethics (and more).

is very much driving their lifestyle choices.” McGuigan has a similar sentiment, with Burton describing how: “Consumers are certainly putting more thought into sustainability, including their own health and lifestyle.” Within the ‘better for you’ beverage space, all the different things driving consumers lead to this point, an ideology around mindful consumption. It’s not the end of any particular type of drink, but a diversification of what’s on offer for shoppers and why. It’s about choice in a changing drinking culture, and this should certainly be considered a positive. As Davidson said: “The bigger impact will be the ripple effect across the broader alcohol landscape, as more and more people start to consume alcoholic beverages for what they deliver in a sensory way (how they look, how enjoyable they are to drink), not just for the alcohol effect.”

■

August 2020 | 37

The Brew Review With winter in full swing, our tasting panel sat down to try some amazing beers and ciders.

The Panel

Michael Capaldo Sales Rep, Hops Products Australia

Liam Pereira Charlie Whitting

Venue and Events Manager, Batch Brewing Co

Former Editor, Beer & Brewer

Rosemary Lilburne-Fini Guy Southern

Craft Beer & Cider Specialist, Camperdown Cellars

Contributor, Crafty Pint

Josh Quantrill Neal Cameron

NSW Sales Manager, Capital Brewing Co.

Technical Director, Brewtique

Judd Owen Jamie Webb-Smith

Contributor, Crafty Pint

Brewer, Yulli’s Brews

Aaron Edwards Benji Bowman

Owner, Bitter Phew

Sales Rep, Capital Brewing Co

Keith Grice

O AS N

Justin Fox

Head Brewer, Hunter Beer Co

Head of Sales, Bintani

38 | National Liquor News

CUS

What’s our Seasonal Focus? This issue, we’re taking a look at those darker beers, the porters and stouts

O AS N

L CUS

O AS N

Beer Tasting

CUS

Jetty Road Mango Unchained IPA

Little Bang Schwang

Fall & Rise Dorchae

Bright Red XPA

Style: Imperial sour

Style: Irish stout

Style: Red IPA

Deeds Quiet Deeds Low Hanging Fruit

Style: IPA

ABV: 8%

ABV: 5%

ABV: 6.5%

Style: Double NEIPA

ABV: 6.2%

Its colour reminds of a rosé, with no haze or head as expected, and an aroma that conjures memories of a strawberry lolly. An ever so slight DMS character is picked up alongside a subtle sourness, with a big strawberry taste upfront followed by the depth of the blackberry and raspberry. It drinks well for an eight per cent (dangerously, you’d never guess it) and is nicely balanced with a good amount of fruit to sourness.

There is plenty of bitterness in this beer coming from coffee and dark chocolate. The colour is what you would expect – strong and dark with a tan head. Those dark chocolate and coffee notes come through on the nose backed up by an underlying caramel and toffee sweetness. The same trick is repeated on the palate where coffee bitterness up front is balanced by some malt sweetness. There’s good coating to this beer too, but could do with some added body.

When you call a beer Red, it has to deliver on colour and malt flavour – which this beer does in spades. A gorgeous ruby red hue and amazing malt character full of toasted biscuit with a hint of golden syrup - Anzac biscuits anyone? The astonishing complexity of the malt profile is supported and complemented by pine notes on the nose and refreshingly citrussy hops.

ABV: 8%

This beer is so orange and opaque that it almost resembles juice. Intense aromas of ripe mango and freshly whipped cream burst from the glass, with some hints of guava and oiliness. Drinking the beer is a ‘whole mouth’ experience, with sweet fruit at the front followed by a dry and bitter finish with some astringency. The palate is fruit-driven but there are surprising green notes at the front and a slightly vegetal finish. The mouthfeel is slick with a lingering dryness. A beer for hop-junkies.

Littlebang.com.au

Deedsbrewing.com.au

Fallandrisebrewing. com.au

Jettyroad.com.au

Style: Hazy IPA

Quiet Deeds Deeds Grisette

Bright Brewery Bright Sour

Blizzard Snowgarden

ABV: 6.8%

Style: Grisette

Style: Sour

Style: Witbier

Great body and a banging fruit flavour, this beer has a deep orange, plenty of haze and thick head that goes and goes. The nose brings the sweetness of white peach and ripe apricots balanced beautifully by green grapes and green strawberries. The body is big and round with a good length on the finish. Flavour-wise, you’re looking at very ripe mandarin and orange. It’s very fruity with a bit of bitterness for balance. A beer that the panel could happily drink all day long.

ABV: 3.7%

ABV: 3.5%

ABV: 5.2%

Alongside the pleasantly subdued yeast characteristics, the palate is stylistically balanced, with banana, pepper and wheatiness offset by bright citrus and subtle herbaceousness. An electric yellow beer with a faint haze and a powerful head that holds well. The nose is beautiful bouquet – tangelo-forward with waxy elements and lots of kumquat, orange and subtle acid. The finish is lingering and refreshing.

This eminently quaffable mid-strength sour starts with hints of mandarin on the nose. The palate is light-bodied and bright, balancing the zing of lemon-sherbert with a touch of bready maltiness before fading into a satisfying tartness. This refreshing drop has more interest than your typical mid-strength and gets a thumbs up from the panel.

A hoppy version of a traditional witbier blanche, this unique Australian version captures the drinker’s attention with is pastel blue and snow flake packaging that makes you feel like you are in the depth of winter in Victorian high country. The beer has a wonderful ripe banana and strong malt palate balanced by firm bitterness and well balanced effervescence.

Beerfarm IPA

Holgate Hazy IPA

Style: IPA ABV: 5.6% A great example of a malt forward IPA with excellent use of crystal malts and a good balance of assertive bitterness. It’s ambergold in colour with a red hue while very clear with no haze and medium off-white head. To taste, toffee and toasty malt flavours are upfront before piney, spicy hop characters, with a medium high bitterness, lingers for a long finish. The bitterness is assertive but suits the bold character of the beer. Beerfarm.com.au

Brightbrewery.com.au

A bright and golden beer with a solid, NEIPAish haze, this beer brings plenty of tropical aromas to the nose. There are aromas of mango, orange and pineapple, along with a strong citrus presence there. The palate is just as vibrant and fruit-forward. Juicy orange and mango notes hide the ABV very well and, with a low carbonation and a bold body, this is also a beer that offers great mouthcoating.

Brightbrewery.com.au

Blizzardbrewing.com

Deedsbrewing.com.au

Holgatebrewhouse.com As published in Beer and Brewer Winter 2020

August 2020 | 39

Spotlight Series

Wine Region Spotlight:

Hunter Valley For the first stop in the National Liquor News Wine Region Spotlight series, Brydie Allen chats with winemakers and producers from the Hunter Valley.

Above: Hand harvesting at Brokenwood

At National Liquor News, we love wine and the people

“We’ve seen some really clever pivots and

who make it. Like many industries, Australian wine has

collaborations happen through necessity (bushfires

been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic and so to

and COVID) and I think this is worth celebrating. It

support the sector so dear to our hearts, we’ve launched

takes a lot of courage and determination to keep going

the Wine Region Spotlight series. We’ll make our way

when it feels like there isn’t any light at the end of the

around Australia and focus on a region, to celebrate its

tunnel, but the way our community came together and

local producers and shine a light on what’s happening

supported each other is remarkable,” Tulloch said.

there. First up, we take you to the Hunter Valley, NSW.

Beale and Tulloch joined voices from Tyrell’s Wines,

The Hunter Valley is Australia’s oldest wine region

Brokenwood, Thomas Wines and Two Rivers in telling

and it certainly hasn’t had an easy start to the year.

National Liquor News what the first half of 2020 has

Continued drought in recent years collided with one

been like in the Hunter Valley, describing how they’ve

of the country’s worst fire seasons, lingering blankets

weathered life in the pandemic.

of smoke and the coronavirus to impact winemakers via their crops, tourism and sales. Rohan Beale, Head of Sales and Marketing at Agnew

“It’s always surprising how you do find ways to manage

Wines (a group which includes Hunter Valley wine

in a crisis,” said Linda Keeping, Cellar Door Manager

labels Audrey Wilkinson, Cockfighter’s Ghost and

of Two Rivers.

Poole’s Rock), said that it’s been an incredibly tough

Keeping is certainly right – in these unprecedented

year already, but the industry isn’t one to give up easily.

times we’re living through, there has been so much

“It’s hard to imagine we’re only halfway through

innovation, inspiration and silver lining thinking in

2020 – drought, bushfires and a pandemic, it’s been one

the drinks industry as a whole, and the wine sector is

of the toughest years for the wine industry in history.

no exception.

But we are a resilient bunch…” Beale said.

40 | National Liquor News

Living the shutdown life

At Two Rivers, they kept staff on hand with the

Christina Tulloch, CEO of Tulloch Wines, also

JobKeeper scheme, continuing to service takeaway and

mentioned the determination of the local industry

delivery for local customers. They added wine and cheese

throughout adversity.

hampers to their offering and targeted local businesses,

Spotlight Series

“It has certainly been interesting,” said Sommelier Kim Bickley. “We kept our key staff busy and our chief Cellar Door guy – Nico, worked at the winery helping out, he really enjoyed the change of pace, although he missed our visitors, as we all did. Rowena our cellar Andrew Thomas in the Braemore Vineyard at Thomas Wines

door and club manager was busy preparing our new ‘tasting experiences’ online booking platform, very exciting.”

A picnic overlooking the Audrey Wilkinson vineyards

At Tyrrell’s Wines, Managing Director and family patriarch Bruce Tyrrell commended the game changing nature of JobKeeper in being able to retain the valuable people on their team. But he also found a silver lining of a different kind during the shut down. “Staying home has had quite the impact, it’s been very peaceful. Until this year, I have never in my life not had to work on Easter. I’ve never not worked, ever since I was a little kid… it was quite a big change,” Tyrrell said.

What reopening was like Wineries in NSW were thrilled to slowly and thanks to support from government and information updates from NSW Wine and the Hunter Valley Wine and Tourism Association, were able to see some successes. JobKeeper also helped Tulloch Wines keep all of its staff throughout the shutdown, which Tulloch said has allowed them to: “bounce back strongly and quickly when we were able to open the doors again.

“I’d like to thank the many large and small retailers that have supported in-store Brokenwood, the Hunter Valley and all NSW wine producers through this difficult time.” – Geoff Krieger, Brokenwood

reopen along with the rest of the onpremise industry, and it’s already had some great impacts on the local Hunter Valley community. Brokenwood General Manager, Geoff Krieger, said the June long weekend was an especially encouraging sign for wineries and other businesses in the area. “The Hunter Valley was busy over the

“We’ve used the time in shut down really

long weekend with visitors from Sydney

productively as a team and got around to

and regional NSW. Forward bookings are

doing all the things that never seemed to

strong too, which gives many employers in

make it off the to do list. It’s also given us

the Hunter Valley the confidence to bring

time to focus on how we wanted our business

staff back from furlough,” Krieger said.

to look post-pandemic and focussed us on

Beale said the weekend was “nothing but

our strengths and how we can grow the

positive” for the Audrey Wilkinson Cellar

business further,” Tulloch said.

Door and the Hunter’s atmosphere in general,

Over at Thomas Wines, they redeployed

and Tulloch described the Valley as “buzzing”.

key staff from the cellar door to fill in other

Tyrrell said he was so pleased with everything

areas of the business that were still running

after reopening, that he even sent a letter of

as usual, as well as prepare the business for

thanks to Premier Gladys Berijiklian for

growth after the shutdown.

easing Cellar Door restrictions. August 2020 | 41

Spotlight Series

“While it certainly hasn’t been an ideal start, we’ve weathered so many unprecedented times in 125 years, and to see the team pull together to come out the other side of this pandemic makes me incredibly proud,” Tulloch said.

Strong retail connection Throughout the pandemic, winemakers in the Hunter Valley have been greatly appreciative of their retail partnerships. Beale said it was retailers who helped keep the wheels in motion, and the other producers agree. Krieger said: “I’d like to thank the many large Linda and Brett Keeping from Two Rivers winery

and small retailers that have supported in-store Brokenwood, the Hunter Valley and all NSW wine producers through this difficult time.”

All the wineries we spoke to were highly impressed

Tyrell followed this to say: “Retailers have been

with the results since reopening, often being booked

looking after us for the past few months… we’re very

to their maximum capacity, and returning sales results

happy we’ve got these people that have looked after us.”

that bode excellently for the Australian wine industry

As the industry recovers together, there’s also great

and the Hunter itself. Bickley told National Liquor News that Thomas Wines was inundated on their first weekend open, and they weren’t the only ones. “It was fantastic to see so many people visiting the region and supporting our area and wineries… The visitors to our cellar door were very understanding of the new restrictions in place. We were booked out at times and had a very successful weekend in terms of sales, it was truly awesome,” Bickley said. Tyrrell’s Wines experienced great visitors and positively changed shopper behaviour in their guests. “[On the long weekend], we were up on the same weekend last year. Our take was up 50 per cent, we had a third less people, our tastings were about half, and our average sale was almost double,” Tyrrell said. Keeping said that despite the challenges of adapting to COVID-19 restrictions, for the most part reopening has been really beneficial. “The long weekend trading was fantastic, the weather up here was glorious and there was a real excitement about being out and about. Our customers understood

opportunity to foster this connection more. The shop

“We’ve partnered with the #lovelocal campaign helping make consumers aware of small local businesses that really need support and developing a sense that we are all in this together and we can all help.” – Rohan Beale, Agnew Wines

local trend continues to experience popularity, and the diversity of wine and products in the Hunter Valley makes it a region perfectly positioned to help retailers cater to this. Tulloch said now is a perfect time to revisit what the Hunter Valley has to offer from a plethora of talented producers and build some more local love. “The Hunter has so much to offer in terms of our contemporary wine styles and the quality and diversity of the wines we are making. We’d love to see Sydney-siders and NSW become as parochial about their local wine region as other states are about theirs,” Tulloch said. Beale described a new partnership that the Audrey Wilkinson brand has that highlights why there is no better time than now to support local. “We’ve partnered with the #lovelocal campaign helping make consumers aware of small local businesses that really need support and developing a sense that we are all in this together and we can all help,” Beale said.

that we have to do things differently now and were very

As Keeping said: “The Hunter has so much to offer,”

understanding, and it’s great to be back to what we think

and even throughout the challenges the region has faced

will be the new normal for the time being,” Keeping said.

as of late, the quality and range of wine is exceptional.

At Tulloch Wines, where they are celebrating their

Subscribe to our fortnightly newsletter to get all the

125th anniversary this year, the continued positivity

latest liquor news, including our Wine Region Spotlight

is highly anticipated.

series, in one convenient spot in your inbox.

42 | National Liquor News

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