Vincor USA to launch South African wine, Kumala

27/04/05 Vincor USA is ready to conquer another New World frontier with the upcoming launch of a South African wine called Kumala. As one of the first South African wines to be widely distributed in the United States at a consumer-friendly price point, Kumala will be introducing many consumers to this exciting region for the first time.

Kumala, which means "slightly different" in a local South African dialect, will be a new face among imported wines. Imports continue to drive the table wine category in the United States in both dollars and volume according to recent Nielsen data. Within that, over half the growth in imported table wines since 1991 is from New World wines**. While growth among Australian wines is beginning to slow, the South African category has grown significantly over the past two years by more than 41 percent*.

Aside from the potential of the import and South African categories, Kumala is already a big presence in the U.K. where it is the number one South African brand and the number four import brand, selling over 3 million cases a year. Kumala launches nationally in the United States this fall with four fruit forward varietals: Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Merlot and Shiraz, line priced at a suggested retail of $8.99.

Vincor International Inc. is the world's 10th largest producer and marketer of wines and related products by revenue, with leading brands in all segments of the market. Vincor has wineries in British Columbia, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, California, Washington State, Western Australia and New Zealand, and is one of the largest wine importers, marketers and distributors in the United Kingdom. Vincor markets wines produced from grapes grown in the Niagara Peninsula of Ontario, the Okanagan Valley of British Columbia, the Dunnigan Hills of California, the Columbia Valley of Washington State, Western Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and vineyards around the world. Vincor's premium brands include Inniskillin, Jackson-Triggs, R.H. Phillips, Toasted Head, Hogue, Goundrey, Amberley, Sumac Ridge, Hawthorne Mountain, Kim Crawford, Kumala, Ancient Coast and Sawmill Creek, which complement its popular priced wines such as Entre-Lacs, L'Ambiance, Sola Nero and Notre Vin Maison.

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