French company, wineSight (http://www.winesight.fr), will unveil two new ranges at the upcoming London International Wine Fair (20-22 May, 2008), to appeal to the on-trade and wedding sectors.

Sublimelle, a middle- to premium range of wines specifically selected for their appeal to women, was launched at the start of this year. An informal launch party was held last night for Sublimelle at Sopranos in High Street Kensington with wine tasting and live music. Over the past few months, Sublimelle has attracted huge interest from the media, consumers and the trade. Following on from this successful launch, two new ranges will be officially introduced to the UK wine market:

• Symphonial: a range of entry- to medium wines created for the on-trade sector.
• C’est l’Amour (This is love): a unique range of wines for weddings including a bespoke food and wine pairing service, customised wine gifts for guests, and personalised wine labels.

The three ranges, Sublimelle, Symphonial and C’est l’Amour are available from wineSight, which trades in the UK as wineList. Yanis Taieb, managing director of wineSight, said: “Our expertise and knowledge of the wine industry has helped us to identify a number of gaps in the UK market. The burgeoning success of the Sublimelle range reflects consumers’ growing interest in the quality of wine available in the on-trade. Over the next 12 months, we expect leading players in the on-trade to switch their focus from price to quality in line with evolving consumer demands. The UK wine market is more sophisticated than it has ever been and consumers are looking for more than the standard, uninspiring offerings found in bars, pubs and restaurants across the country.”

‘Symphonial’ harmony for the on-trade

wineSight recognises UK drinkers’ growing desire to treat themselves to a glass of wine after a long day at work. People are looking for a more inspiring, unique and exciting wine list with the onus on quality as well as price. The Symphonial range offers a unique range of high quality French wines without the premium price tag. (1)

Taieb said: “We understand that wine is a business in its own right in the on-trade market so it is important for us to offer high-quality wines at realistic prices. Our proposal is to offer a break from the norm for the market and consumers. Our exclusive consultancy service helps bar and pub managers to better understand their customers, the potential of a refreshed wine list, and the competition.”

Symphonial is an elegant, affordable and innovative selection of 15 French wines specifically created for the on-trade market including Bourgogne Pinot Noir 2006, Crémant de Bourgogne blanc de blanc and three light wines such as the 9% Languedoc Rosé Grenache. The wines were carefully selected to offer superior value for money alongside a diversity of blends and grapes from different regions across France. The aim of the portfolio is to introduce a fresh, original element to bars and restaurants while maximising profit opportunities for those within the on-trade market.

Wine for weddings

Wine can be one of the most talked about wedding expenses a bride and groom will incur, so it’s worth getting right. wineSight will remove the hassle of matching the wine to your wedding breakfast and for the evening reception. The wine bottles can be customised with unique labels that add a personal approach to the day, and provide a great memento for friends and family.

The wineSight team, including oenologist Frédéric Auriol, assumed the arduous task of tasting more than 300 wines before deciding on the final range from high-end items such as Alsace Gewurztraminer Gand cru Rosacker 2002 and Banyuls Grand Cru 1999 to easy to drink and reasonably priced Vin de Pays Languedoc Grenache 2004 and Côtes du Rhones 2006.

Currently, the wines are available for sale online at http://www.chateauselect.co.uk/SublimelleIntro.html with no minimum order. Since the company’s arrival in the UK in November 2007, wineList has developed relationships with some of the leading bars and restaurants in London, such as Sopranos on Kensington High Street, which are keen to capitalise on consumers’ increasing interest in higher quality wines.