Tesco backs Botham
The drinks business witnessed a major moment for the English wine industry in September as the first bottles of a Sir Ian Botham-backed rosé from Hush Heath Estate in Kent were labelled and readied for Tesco.
Due to go into the UK’s largest supermarket in November, the rosé is the first product to gain a major national listing under the Botham & Balfour brand, which – as revealed by db in July – is a new offering from the world-famous English cricketer, having selected Hush Heath as his partner for an English wine, a Kent-based estate with 40 hectares of vineyards that was founded in 2002 by entrepreneur Richard Balfour-Lynn.
Encouraging Botham to select Hush Heath Estate was not just the quality of the wines, but also the offer of a collaborative approach to the winemaking and promotion by the property’s owner, Balfour-Lynn – hence the range of wines will carry both partners’ names on the label.
The range comprises a Brut NV pink sparkling wine and a still rosé, both from the brilliant 2018 vintage, and Tesco has chosen to carry, on an exclusive basis, the still rosé (Hush Heath Estate provides the wines for Tesco Finest English White and Sparkling Wine).
The listing in the UK’s largest supermarket chain is a major moment for the English wine industry because it gives national distribution to a still rosé – which, db believes, is a first. Speaking about the Botham & Balfour English Rosé, Jason Godley, beers, wines and spirits category director for Tesco, said: “This is incredibly exciting, not only for Tesco customers but also for the English wine industry. The quality of the vineyards is incredible; they are immaculate, and that care and attention is in great evidence in the bottle. “We’ve been working with Hush Heath for a number of years, as the supplier partner behind our Tesco Finest English Sparkling wine and Tesco Finest English White. We’re delighted to support this new endeavour for them and to further develop our own partnership with the winery.”
Godley also believes in the commercial potential for English wine in the UK, be it still or sparkling, thanks to an increased search for local products. “The trend is not just in wine; people are looking for regionality and authenticity with produce. If you go out in the on-trade, which is where some trends start, you will see that the craft gins or beers are from producers in the local area.”
As for the style of the Botham & Balfour still rosé, he said that it was in line with demand. “It is a bone-dry style of rosé, which is what we know our customers are looking for,” he said. The Botham & Balfour still rosé will go into Tesco stores from November, with an RRP of £12.
