KWV appoints new UK distributor

South African wine producer KWV has appointed North South Wines as its UK distributor, effective from 27 April 2016.

KWV has taken on North South Wines as its UK distributor as it looks to exploit the premium wine channel

KWV’s regional business manager for Europe, Lisbet Olsen, said that the company needed a “more focused UK partner” in the premium wine channel and that the new distribution deal would allow the company to “channel the void between entry-level South African wine and super-premium”.

The decision comes after KWV conducted a strategic review of its UK distribution arrangements following the takeover of current distributor, Bottle Green, by Kingsland Wines UK.

Bottle Green has managed KWV’s UK distribution since 2014.

KWV is known for brands such as Roodeberg, KWV Wines, Laborie, Golden Kaan, Cathedral Cellar, Cafe Culture, Wild African Cream and KWV Tawnies and brandies, as well as the recently launched Cruxland Gin.

The producer, which has its headquarters in Paarl in South Africa’s Western Cape, said it had updated its UK strategy in recent months to provide greater focus on independents, regional wholesalers, premium multiples, specialists and convenience retail.

“The UK wine market is in flux and it is therefore ever-more important that we have a defined channel strategy, reflected by our choice of importer,” Olsen explained.

“The Bottle Green integration into Kingsland gave us an opportunity to review our strategy and our key fit into the market.”

“As a result of this, we have mutually decided that we needed a more focused UK partner, with an emphasis on the premium channels where we think we can offer something unique.

“North South Wines are a young and vibrant business, who have demonstrated key successes in the sectors which we are targeting. We look forward to working with them to channel the void between entry-level South African wines and the super-premiums. The opportunity for South African wines has never been more exciting.”

North South Wines was set up in 2014 as a specialist, direct-supply wine distributor with multi-channel expertise.

The company is part-owned by three wineries: The Wine People (Italy), De Bortoli (Australia) and Waimea Family Estates (New Zealand). and distributes for additional 17 wine estates from countries including France, Spain, Italy, Argentina, Chile, South Africa, New Zealand and Australia.

North South Wines brand development director Joy Edmonson added: “South Africa is producing some of the southern hemisphere’s most exciting innovation at present with the help of a new crop of bright spark, young winemakers. This, coupled with the incredible value South Africa can offer, is a compelling opportunity for all involved in the UK wine business.

“We are thrilled to be capturing this zeitgeist with KWV, who have fantastic brands with real heritage and unrivalled access to regional sourcing from their own growers across the Western Cape, together with a winemaking team who have helped elevate KWV to become South Africa’s most highly awarded winery in the last three years. Watch this space.”