Focus on premium wine market gives DGB winning edge
· 3 min read
DGB Ltd led the South African category at the prestigious Mundus Vini Grand International Wine Awards, winning over 40% of all gold medals awarded to Cape producers at the Spring Competition, which is traditionally held just before the annual Prowein Wine Show in Dusseldorf.
Of the total of 24 gold medals going to South African wines, 10 were for wines in DGB’s diverse stable of established and new brands, representing an impressive diversity of styles, regionality and grape varieties. The winning wines are housed in DGB’s Boschendal and Bellingham ranges, as well as a “passion project ”, the Old Road Wine Company which is co-owned by Tim Hutchinson.
However, if there is one factor common to these Mundus Vini awarded wines, it is that they all bear the fruits of DGB’s strategy of the premiumisation of its local and international wine offering.
DGB Ltd CEO Tim Hutchinson said the company had made a collective decision in 2016 to focus on servicing the top-end of the wine market through offering wines at price points and a quality proposition for which customers are prepared to pay premium prices.
“Of course we knew that focussing on the premium market was not going to be easy – if it were, everybody would be doing it,” says Hutchinson. “But since this strategy was implemented, we have seen growth in the premium market, the result of DGB’s strong wine brands offering provenance and legacy – such as Boschendal and Bellingham – as well as exciting new lines, including the wines from Old Road Wine Company.
The growth is recorded by the sales figures while the quality of the wines is underscored through competitions such as Mundus Vini, where DGB dominated the local category this year.”
“We are tremendously proud of this showing at Mundus Vini and am sure it will increase DGB’s growing footprint, locally as well as throughout the world.” DGB international sales director Greg Guy said.
DGB’s sterling performance at Mundus Vini gives the brands much-needed exposure now that this year’s Prowein trade event has been postponed due to the coronavirus. “Prowein, held in Dusseldorf each year, is one of the world’s most important wine events, and its postponement has left a void in opportunities for wineries to get international exposure for their wines,” says Guy.
“DGB’s fine showing at Mundus Vini so shortly before what would have been Prowein, definitely helps to fill the gap by affording our wines the international attention they deserve.”
The DGB Gold Medal winning wines are: - Bellingham The Bernard Series Small Barrel SMV 2017 - Bellingham The Bernard Series Whole Bunch Roussanne 2019 - Bellingham Homestead Sauvignon Blanc 2019 - Bellingham Homestead Shiraz 2017 - Bellingham Homestead Pinotage 2018 - Bellingham The Bernard Series Basket Press Syrah 2017 - Boschendal Black Angus 2017 - Boschendal The Nicolas 2016 - Old Road Wine Co Butcher & Cleaver 2017 - Old Road Wine Co Wine Co Juliette 2019
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