Spanish boost for FMV business

Fields, Morris & Verdin has strengthened its Spanish offering with the addition of Raventos i Blanc, Cillar de Silos and López de Heredia, due to its firm belief in the potential of Iberian fine wines in the UK restaurant sector.

The new wines sit alongside its range of longstanding agencies from Spain, including Vega Sicilia, Finca Allende and Alvaro Palacios, as well as Lustau Sherry.

“We really think Spain is a coming force,” said Damian Carrington, sales and marketing director, when speaking to the drinks business at the distributor’s biennial tasting earlier this week in London, “and its sells well off a list – Spain is a real opportunity.”

Maria José López de Heredia, who was present at the tasting, explained that her company was looking for UK distribution after the termination of a tie-up with Great Western Wine following its takeover by Enotria, which represents Marqués de Riscal.

She also told db that the market for barrel-aged white wines from López de Heredia Viña Tondonia was “incredible,” and that there was “more demand than ever before.”

“We are almost the only one making whites like they did 100 years ago and the volumes are small but all of Rioja is selling more white wine,” she added.

Also, proving that rosé can age, López de Heredia showed its current release Rioja rosado from the 2000 vintage, made using skin contact with Tempranillo, Garnacha and Viura, before fermentation in old wooden vats with wild yeasts and ageing for over four years in barrel.

“This rosé can age for another 10 to 20 years,” she said, “and rosé can age if it is made to age,” she concluded.

Meanwhile, Vega Sicilia, which was also present at the tasting, confirmed that the wines from the producer’s new project in Rioja would be released in 2013.

Patrick Schmitt, 16.06.2011