In Australia, there are now about 1800 wineries, four of which produce 75% of all the wine, and the same four plus Casella (Yellow Tail) make about 93% of all of the Australian wines sold here in the US. 

  It is Calmont’s focus on smaller production, terroir-specific wines where hopefully the passion of the winemaker shows through, or where the regional character of the wine is evident. Although many of these wines have been difficult to find, they are worth searching out. There are so many delicious wines out there that one should not simply settle with a merlot with a kangaroo label. After all, wine is an organic, living thing and it deserves more respect than a marketing department can give it.

    Calmont is not against animal labels or animals, per se, we do stand against the commoditization of wine, where the marketing department of a huge conglomerate wine company decides that, based on market research, consumers want a soft, flabby, oak-laden wine with a cute squirrel on the label, since x of supermarket wine buyers are women and cute squirrels may appeal to women. That’s not for wine, that’s for cereal.

    Recently, Robert Parker released his annual report on Australian wines for which he tasted over 3200 wines currently available in the US.  Of those only 952 were rated 84 points or above to be “Recommended”.  With the exception of some expensive trophy wines from Penfolds, NOT A SINGLE WINE FROM THE TOP 10 BRANDS SOLD IN THE US MADE THE CUT.  Think about that.  Think of all the most popular well established international brands and all the new “Critter label” brands.  Not a single wine made by any of them scored 84 points or higher!!!

    Going to a supermarket or a gas station is like visiting the zoo these days.  Maybe someone should build an ark, because this wine market is awash in a new flood of wines sporting animals on the label–more critters keep crawling out from under rocks. 

    Where is PETA when you need them?  This is true cruelty to animals….are these wines for the “Happy Meal” set?  Target kids much?  Alas, I digress, and if you, like us are only interested in critters that you throw on the Barbie….please come join the Calmont crew!   No woofs, growls, bleats, squawks, grunts, or snorts, thank you!  Just Real Australian wine!

    The Southern Hemisphere wine market grew as much as 50% in the United States last year. There has never been a better time as a retailer or restaurateur to build upon this exciting category.   Consistent amongst each of the wine regions, the Calmont portfolio offers some of these advantages over our competitors.

    Whether it’s a premium restaurant needing unique quality wines by the bottle or by the glass, or a large retailer needing consistent volume items, or a boutique retailer wanting something different to set them apart, our portfolio offers complete varietal representation and at all necessary price points. From highly-rated case stack offerings to small production rarities, our portfolio offers something for every market. In addition, the wineries represent the same good price-to-value relationship they enjoy back in their local markets, ensuring brands of quality and international reputation.

    Opportunities abound with the value for money Southern Hemisphere wines offer.  Many opportunities for glass pours exist in premium restaurants.  A category requires on-premise success in order to boost customer awareness and help drive retail sales. With a myriad of offerings- complementing every cuisine, the Calmont portfolio has something to add to even the most comprehensive wine list, and can also provide assistance in building and expanding newer restaurant programs.

    When building the Calmont portfolio of wines, we looked for the best wineries in each area that showcases each varietal that the region is best known for. In Australia we looked for Coonawarra Cabernet, Barossa and McLaren Vale Shiraz, Hunter Valley Semillon, and Margaret River Chardonnay.  In New Zealand it was the Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc, Canterbury, Waipara and Otago Pinot Noir.  

    All told, it takes a team to bring a vintage to completion, and the same can be said for our business. Calmont carefully chooses its suppliers based on quality, potential for the brands, and our personal seal of approval. We keep current with our wineries’ offerings and new projects and visit many regions and wineries year in and year out. From assisting with promotional events, competitive pricing, shelf-talkers and POS materials, we look to form lasting and successful partnerships with you.