McGuigan releases four new wines in UK

Hunter Valley based producer McGuigan Wines has released a quartet of new reds into the UK across its ‘Classic’, ‘Reserve’ and ‘Founders’ ranges.

Two new wines have been added to the Classic series – a Classic Pinot Noir and Classic Malbec. Priced at £7.50 each, they were created due to a growing consumer thirst for both varieties in the UK.

The Pinot is said to boast “rich notes of fresh ripe berries and sweet spice” and pairs well with dishes like garlic and herb pork tenderloins and mushroom stroganoff.

The Malbec meanwhile has “spiced fruit and chocolate notes”, making it a good match for red meat dishes like roast beef or venison.

Also new to the UK is a Reserve Merlot, priced at £8 a bottle and a Founders Merlot, which costs £11. All four wines are have gone on sale at Sainsbury’s.

According to its makers, the Reserve Merlot is “soft and mellow, with fruity flavours of plum and a velvety texture”, making it a great partner for chicken and pasta dishes.

Finally, the Founder’s Merlot offers notes of “rich berries, dark chocolate and mocha” and is described as “exceptionally smooth” and a perfect partner for slow-cooked stews.

Julian Dyer, Australian Vintage’s general manager for the UK & Europe, recently told db that despite Brexit woes, the UK remains a key market for McGuigan.

“The devaluation of the pound doesn’t change our strategy in the UK – we’re a growing brand and we want to continue to grow our distribution,” he said.

“We’re going to continue to work hard and invest in the UK market. We can’t underestimate the impact of Brexit, it affects everyone as no one makes a lot of money selling wine in the UK as it is, so it will be a big challenge for us moving forward,” he added.

Winemaker Neil McGuigan echoed Dyers thoughts. “We’re in the UK for the longterm and we need to weather the storm and come out the other side by building our distribution footprint,” he said.