In the evenings, the temperature shifts. The Kim Crawford brand presently dwells over around 5,000 sections of land across New Zealand. The deleted tweet was a reminder of just how onerous the conditions of the deal are, a decade on. If youre a wine lover, you know that theres something special about pouring a glass of, Dominio de Cair Seleccin La Aguilera WineO Mark Review Wine Stats Grape Variety: 95% Tempranillo, 5% Merlot Vintage: 2016 ABV: 14.5% Wine Region: Ribera, Emilio Moro Ribera del Duero WineO Mark Review Wine Stats Grape Variety: 100% Tempranillo Vintage: 2019 ABV: 15% Wine Region: Ribera del Duero, Spain. Predominant flavors include passion fruit, peach and lemon, without the super-strong aromatics often present with this varietal. What happens when your name is your brand, and then you sell it? The TV commercials portray real-life moments shared among friends where choosing Kim Crawford makes an impression and gives them confidence in their wine choice to take on any occasion. Kim Crawford is part of a stable of New Zealand labels that Constellationthe largest exporter of New Zealand winesowns and exports to 75 countries. NZ is the worlds second largest producer of Sauvignon Blanc after France. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. He joined the brand in 2005, working intimately with the organizer, Kim Crawford. Crawford famously backed Musk's 'extremely hardcore' Twitter 2.0 culture when he first took over, and was pictured on the office floor in a sleeping bag with a sleeping mask in November 2022. 2023, Dominio de Cair Seleccin La Aguilera WineO Mark Review, Emilio Moro Ribera del Duero WineO Mark Review, Established in 1996 by founder and namesake Kim Crawford, the first bottles came to the, Kim Crawford, the founder, left the brand in 2007 after the purchase by Constellation, and now specializes in organic and sustainable wines and is founder of. Crawford, already an experienced winemaker in New Zealand, decided to set up shop in his Auckland home, working with a variety of growers and producing his wine labels in local facilities. Hes a country boy, while the brand shrieks city. 2014 - 2023 VinePair Inc. Made In NYC. Kim, who has been married to Erica for 27 years, tagged along, up for the challenge of using old-world methods to grow grapes and make wine. Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc is a white wine from New Zealand. Since taking over Kim Crawford Wines in 2006, New York-based Constellation Brands has built the label into a powerhouse, especially in the U.S. Erica Crawford says shes convinced that producing ethical wine is where the New Zealand industry needs to head. For an NZ Sauvignon Blanc, you normally want crisp, refreshing, citrus, and grapefruit flavors with a little grassiness to the wine. More Vintages: 2017 2015 2014 2013 2020 . Their 23-year-old son, Rory, is an aspiring winemaker who, they insisted, must ply his trade outside the family business until he is 30; daughter Pia, 22, recently graduated from university with a science degree. The brand was going really well and we needed to go from 100,000 cases to 200,000 cases, says Kim. Its a little bit more in the Old World style.. Extensive research into the Kim Crawford consumers values led to the development of the Make It Amazing campaign, with findings confirming the deep emotional connection and loyalty fans share with the brand. I was happier dealing with one person [Vincor] rather than five., Constellation Brands, the worlds largest wine company, bought Vincor for $1.3 billion in 2006. There is reason for her excitement. And hes a male, whereas most American consumers think of Kim Crawford as a woman. Her confident aura catches the attention of two other female shoppers, who can't help but gaze at her in amazement. This story appears in the October 23, 2017 issue of Forbes Asia. September 11, 2022 by Rosamie. Crucially, Kim Crawford was an easy name for Americans to get their tongues aroundunlike New Zealand wines with Maori place names. This is in line with recent consumer trends torwards lower-ABV, less-alcohol, better-for . Kim Crawford is one of the iconic brands of New Zealand. With a climate similar to Bordeaux, Hawkes Bay is known for producing New Zealands finest Chardonnay that is cool-climate and elegant in style. Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc is a white wine from New Zealand. A New Zealand national, Dave Edmonds has been producing wines for over 20 years and is as passionate about Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc as the day he started. No. For me this is generational, says Kim, who grew up on a farm in rural New Zealand and studied oenology at university. While things are going well, its sweet sailing. I was making wines to a certain style., Kim was overseas when the scandal broke, and Erica remembers trying to manage the fallout on her own, while coping with two small children, Pia, now 17, and Rory, and the terminal illness of her father in South Africa. Mix Kim Crawford Pinot Noir with hot chocolate, or make a Paloma using Sauvignon Blanc at your next happy hour or dinner party. And yet, ironically, a scandal that came closest to derailing the Crawford brand soon after its launch was also responsible for defining its wildly successful essence. A lot has changed in the 24 years since Kim Crawford was founded. $13.49 + CRV . 2021 did see lower harvest yields right across the industry largely due to weather, and this coupled with unprecedented global demand for Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc has created a supply-demand challenge, Erica admitted. It has implications not only for us, but for other people, Erica adds. With fewer vineyards hitting the market and a dwindling supply of land suitable for development, vineyard values in Marlborough have risen sharply over the past year, fetching between $88,000 and $220,000 per planted hectare depending on location, according to Tim Gifford at Colliers International. Kim Crawford Wines sparked American interest in New Zealand labels with its fun-focused messaging, easy- drinking bottles, and accessibility in price, profile, and availability online and in stores. 26 Feb Feb Although Crawford himself may be back, however, Loveblock wines are not simply a reboot of his previous venture. APPELLATION: New Zealand Converting the hillside property into vineyard land hasnt been easy. Kim Crawford Chardonnay White Wine is an approachable and full-bodied white wine that shows great length and persistence. Does that matter? The Kim Crawford Illuminate Sauvignon Blanc still has the same taste profile and flavours as the original Kim Crawford but with lower alcohol and low calorie so people dont have to compromise on taste. They went shopping after their sale, upping their holdings to about 215 hectares, which included 160 hectares of undeveloped hillside and adjoining land in Marlboroughs Awatere Valley that is now home to the Loveblock brand. Kim Crawford has gained a cult following over its twenty-year history for its distinct taste, unwavering quality, and inclusive spirit, said Julie Rossman, Vice President of Marketing for Kim Crawford Wines. Kim Crawford Winery this month will soft-launch its new lower-cal wine line, Kim Crawford Illuminate. Natalie MacLean offers North America's most popular online wine and food pairing classes. Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc cost $13.99. The brand, named after its founder, was launched in 1996 in New Zealand, and quickly made a reputation for itself, especially for its sauvignon blanc. So why did the Crawfords sell their company to Vincor in 2003? The name Kim Crawford is a familiar one for many wine drinkers. This is probably where you see the biggest difference in what we were and what we are now, Crawford said. Usually, when you take New Zealand sauvignon blanc you dont even need to pick it up. And the Crawfords did not tinker with the wine for the U.S. market. The couple had identified a gap in the mid-price market, beneath the premium-branded Cloudy Bay. It may be that I am too cautious, says Erica. They likewise say that The plants ran in age, as long as 14 years, bringing a blend of young force and profundity of flavor.. Within these regions the climates vary and allow us to select from an assortment of grapes producing the diverse and flavorful wines were known for throughout the world. Delivery Available. "In this episode of "EOD Drinks," the VinePair team is joined by Kim Crawford, creator of the eponymous Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc, and his wife, Erica Crawford. The vineyards of Kim Crawford are located in outstanding, predominantly coastal sites. And those zingy flavors jumped out.. WordPress Cookie Plugin by Real Cookie Banner. To give you the best search experience, we use cookies for remembering your search filters, personalizing content, and analyzing how the website is used. Kim Crawford Rose Wine, Marlborough, New Zealand, 2pk 250ml can . Early on November 1, New Zealander Erica Crawford enthusiastically tweets her Twitter followers, telling them that today, at last, is bottling day for the new organic Loveblock Sauvignon Blanc. Kim Crawford and his wife Erica now own the Loveblock label, also in Marlborough. When flavor is at the core of your philosophy, grapes become the defining factor in ensuring excellent wine. The label later produced a ros called Pansy! The wine would pair well with shellfish, pork, and shrimp and grits. Make It Amazing celebrates the confidence Kim Crawford gives consumers by over delivering on quality, taste and value; and brings consumers strong brand loyalty to life. Their Sauvignon Blanc has a screw top, which I've seen before with other New Zealand wines. The brand is currently marking its 25th birthday with a series of global celebrations, while the Crawfords have been raising a glass to the incredible memories theyve created along the way. The wines consistent quality, distinct crisp flavor, and understated elegance exceed expectations and empower consumers with an effortless choice. Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc has become the benchmark Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand and has been named in the Wine Spectator Top 100 four times. And that training in science, she believes, came in handy when she was marketing what would become the first Kiwi brand. Please Drink Responsibly. But who is this wine maker who shrouds her identity in mystery? We support the fight against underage drinking and drunk driving. Hopefully, Ill be good enough one day.. Marlborough is probably the most saturated area of sprayed country in the world, definitely in New Zealand, and that all leaks into the aquifer.. The drinks behemoth has long signaled its desire to offload its cheap brands. We farm like the Old World. California Sauvignon Blanc Revolution is Here. The brand's founder and namesake left the company in 2007 after its acquisition by Constellation, exiting with a cool $50 million. Won't he be sorry that he can't name it Crawford? Their estate produces close to 27,000 cases of Loveblock wine annuallythe company expects to post $3.7 million in revenue in the year ending in Juneand is on track to double that within the next five years, with most of the production for export. The Kim Crawford brand has grown dramatically during the last 25 years with annual sales volume of $26.7 million and is now the largest New Zealand wine brand by volume in both the US and Canada. He and his significant other, Erica Crawford, have since begun a Marlborough-based wine brand called Loveblock, which works in natural and supportable viticulture. The established leader of luxury-priced Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand, Kim Crawford combines a . Most of the wine at Kim Crawford isn't single vineyard, but we want to showcase the variety and the region. It was Marlborough that broke the Kim Crawford virtual spell for the new millennium when the founders rented a state of the art winery and purchased vineyards in Marlboroughs cool Waihopai Valley in 2000. So if youre looking for a wine to be ideal for entertaining, make sure to try the Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc Wine. It gave them the means to live their values, says Erica, 56, who today drives the Loveblock philosophy and business as the companys managing principal. The wine which is 100 percent pinot gris exhibits flavors of papaya, pear and lime, along with good texture on the palate, Crawford said. Kim Crawford is the number-one Sauvignon Blanc and New Zealand Wine brand in the United States (IRI, 2019). Since its launch in 1996, the label has gained critical acclaim around the globe. Find it at Costco, Trader Joes, or on Vivino. The Wine Industry Advisor is an Online Industry Publication featuring news, articles, and editorial content relevant to the wine industry. In fact, Kim Crawford was one of the first New Zealand producers to make an unoaked style of Chardonnay. Who played Barbra Streisands husband in Prince of Tides? So what if, some time in the future, on this patch of organic land, Kim Crawford makes a wine better than all the rest. In 2003, Crawford sold the brand to Canadian company Vincor - the same year the Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc first made Wine Spectator's Top 100 List (it has since been included several times). According to the Crawfords, this wine is far subtler and more. Arguably the most famous, not to mention most accessible in price and availability, New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc in the world. Its one of the most accessible Sauvignon Blanc wines out there, one you can find in most, if not all, local wine stores. Sauvignon blanc, unlike other varietals that need to be aged in barrels, can be sold within a year of production. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Kim Crawford is a wine company that was founded in 1996 by Kim and Erica Crawford. America really loves Kim Crawford. It was a time when the industry was very, very loose, Kim says now. The following year, Vincor was acquired by Constellation . Kim says the traditional taste of the Marlborough sauvignon blanc is different when it has an organics platform. Its good to break even and to be a base for the brand, says Erica. Within seven years, Kim Crawford Wines was the countrys tenth-largest winery in global sales. Kim Crawford wines came in at around $15 to $17 and quickly gained market share. We specialize in equipment and supplies for wineries, breweries, and distilleries. 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