Conviviality is delighted to announce the addition of Graham Norton and the Invivo range of wines from New Zealand to its portfolio. Available to customers from 1st March, the Graham Norton range will be available to the on trade via Matthew Clark and multiple retail via PLB.
Launched in the middle of the Global Financial Crisis in 2008, Invivo Wines was founded by childhood friends, Tim Lightbourne (co-founder) and Rob Cameron (winemaker & co-founder). In Invivo style, the boys state in their advertising their wines are made with grapes, time and two maxed out credit cards! With wines from Central Otago, Marlborough and Gisborne, Invivo is the Southern Hemisphere’s first equity crowdfunded winery and smashed the New Zealand equity crowdfunding record of the time.
After supplying the hit UK TV Show “The Graham Norton Show” with Invivo Sauvignon Blanc for the first time in 2011, the first vintage of Graham Norton’s Own Sauvignon Blanc was produced in 2014 in collaboration with the presenter. With a touch of “Norton” Hemisphere magic to the Southern Hemisphere grapes, the GN Sauvignon Blanc sold out in days in New Zealand. Based on the first release success, Graham’s wines now sell in 5 countries and won the most successful consumer launch in Ireland in 2016
Instead of just putting his name on the label, each vintage Graham sits down with the Invivo co-founders and selects his blend from various tank samples. The process is filmed and released to the public with the wine. Last year the blending was filmed in Bantry, Ireland. Keen to come on board with more than just his wine, Graham also holds a shareholding in Invivo. The “GN” range has since expanded to include a Shiraz and a Rosé, and has been awarded
Rob Cameron, Co-founder and Winemaker says; ‘We’re very excited to be partnering with the team at Conviviality, with their extensive UK coverage in multiple channels allowing greater access for the British public to Graham’s wines and Invivo. We’re not a winery that follows the norm, so stand by for some fun activity coming up to support our customers! Over the years we’ve done some hard yards building up the brand. When we achieved our first national retail listing, Tim and I hired a car, put a logo on the side and attempted to visit every store in the country over a couple of months! It’s great to now see a company like Conviviality coming on board with us.’
Andrew Shaw, Group Buying Director for Conviviality says; ‘We are delighted to be working with Graham Norton and Invivo Wines. The wines have already had significant success in the UK and we are looking forward to building on this through the various channels. The Graham Norton wines offer excellent quality alongside a great brand proposition and we are looking forward to maximising the opportunities this presents us with.’
The Graham Norton wines will be presented at Matthew Clark’s Drinks Emporium event on Tuesday 28th February. The wines have already collect 32 accolades since release including 4 gold medals. The distribution of the Invivo range of wines will continue to be available to independent retailers and regional wholesalers, through Walker Wodehouse.
News about the announcement!
https://www.thedrinksbusiness.com/2017/02/conviviality-adds-graham-nortons-wines-to-portfolio/
http://www.harpers.co.uk/news/graham-nortons-convivial-deal/549183.article
