Bird Wines to Fly High in Canada

Steve Bird’s boutique New Zealand wines will soon be introduced to an extra 13 million people through one of the world’s largest alcohol purchasers.

The Kiwi winemaker has appointed Canadian agent Von Terra Enterprises to represent Bird Wines to the Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO).

The LCBO is a provincial government agency which controls more than half of Ontario’s total beverage alcohol market. They source wine, spirits and beers from 77 different countries and recorded $4.27 billion worth of sales in the 2008/09 financial year.

Steve Bird says all products selected for general purchase by the LCBO must have agent representation, and he was thrilled to have Von Terra Enterprises on board to help market and promote Bird Wines in Canada.

“There is huge competition to get new products picked up by the LCBO so this deal is very significant. One in three Canadians live in Ontario so we hope this is just the beginning of a whole new export market for Bird Wines.”

Von Terra Enterprises president Andrew von Teichman says the 2008 Bird Sauvignon Blanc and 2008 Big Barrel Pinot Noir were chosen following rave reviews by eRobert Parker – a renowned US wine reviewer.

ERobert Parker scored 90/100 for both Bird’s 2008 Sauvignon Blanc and for the winery’s 2008 Big Barrel Pinot Noir.

Bird Wines will be sold through the LCBO’s VINTAGES stores – the fine wine and premium spirits division of the LCBO. They offer opportunities for new producers to establish their presence in Ontario and build a reputation for quality products, while offering consumers unique discoveries from around the world.

“The VINTAGES collection of fine wines is available through 170 LCBO stores, 40 boutiques and six specialized shops across Ontario,” von Teichman explains.

“Products that do really well there are then often picked up across the board by the LCBO so competition among brands is intense.”

VINTAGES customers tend to be quite knowledgeable about wine and spirits, says von Teichman. “They have above-average income, purchase wine more frequently, and spend more on their purchases. They expect to be rewarded for paying more and we’re confident Bird Wines will be very well received.”

This latest deal comes three years after Bird Wines successfully broke into the tough US market through Via Pacifica Selections, from which he went on to form a joint venture partnership with director, David Duckhorn.

Steve Bird will visit Von Terra Enterprises this August to coincide with the launch of Bird Wines in Canada. “We have a full programme of presentations and tastings planned to coincide with the release of our wines in Ontario. The door has now been opened to an enormous market-place and we intend to take full advantage of that.”