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Doña Paula and Santa Rita Estates team up with North South Wines
The new partnership will see two new Argentinian wine ranges enter the UK off-trade in response to rapidly growing demand.
As a result of escalating demand for Argentinian wines in the UK, distributor North South Wines is gearing up to launch two new ranges; one from Doña Paula and the other from Santa Rita Estates Argentina.
With both brands falling within the Santa Rita Estates umbrella, its new supplier says that together the producers offer “the whole package: excellent quality, the ability to grow and an understanding of how to do business in the UK”.
Los Cardos Private Collection by Doña Paula comprises a single vineyard, unoaked Cabernet Sauvignon and a Malbec from Luján De Cuyo in western Argentina, as well as a Sauvignon Blanc, and unoaked Chardonnay both from the Uco Valley, around an hour’s south from Mendoza. All of the wines are 100% vegan, sustainably produced and priced at £10.
According to local folklore, the presence of thistles in a vineyard is the sign of healthy land, which is why the labels adorning the Los Cardos range feature the spiky plant.
Also making its debut in the UK via North South Wines is Malbado from Santa Rita Estates Argentina. Crafted by Santa Rita Estates’ winemaker Oscar Salas, the premium standalone Malbec, priced at £14, is an elegant, complex expression of the terroir in which it is grown. The Luján De Cuyo environs are arid, cold and stony, and are considered to be some of the most extreme found in the winemaking world. It’s for this reason that the range is named ‘Malbado’; a Spanish take on ‘the evil or wicked one’.
Kim Wilson, managing director, North South Wines, says: ‘Being able to offer a single vineyard Malbec to our customers at this price point is a great opportunity in today’s market. We are anticipating a lot of interest around this brand.’
Wilson further revealed that “Argentina seems to be particularly popular with a younger, digitally savvy generation” and said that it was paramount for North South Wines to have a partner “who is dynamic in that respect and understands the UK market.”
Both ranges put sustainability front and centre, with Doña Paula having achieved Bodegas de Argentina Sustainable Certification version 3.0 in 2019, one of only a few wineries in Argentina to do so.
“Both companies share common values. Doña Paula’s ambitious sustainability program was key from the beginning to know they were right partner for us,” said Wilson.
According to Santa Rita Estates, the UK remains one of the group’s most important markets. “Last year the Argentine sector recorded a 23% growth in terms of value and is one of the fastest growing markets of origin, with the premium tier of over £9 experiencing one of the largest areas of growth,” said Andres Lavados, CEO Santa Rita Estates.