Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/430172
22 / the tasting panel / december 2014 Winery History: Leconfield is a remarkable family wine business owned by Dr. Richard Hamilton and his wife, Jette. It encompasses two of South Australia's leading wine labels, both attributable to the Hamilton family: Leconfield Wines at Coonawarra and Richard Hamilton Wines at McLaren Vale. With a strong wine industry heritage dating from 1837, the family has devel- oped a distinguished international reputation for elegant fine wines. Leconfield wines are based on a simple philosophy: Great wines are crafted from great vineyards. Winemaker Bio: Senior Winemaker Paul Gordon's fascination with wine grew from researching for a school project at the age of 14. Oenology at Roseworthy College in South Australia followed, and after graduation, Paul gained experience in all facets of winemaking, working in the Barossa Valley, Mildura, Sydney and Coonawarra for the Southcorp group, including 12 years as Winemaker and Senior Winemaker at Rouge Homme in Coonawarra. This period was interspersed with experience in Europe. He joined Leconfield as Senior Winemaker in December 2001. Inspiration from wines of Alsace, Burgundy, Bordeaux, the Rhône regions of France and the new generation of producers in Italy, as well as Paul's oenology experience in Australia, have refined his approach. "Great wine cannot be made without exceptional fruit. I pride myself on developing close relationships between both our winery and vineyard staff. We all constantly evaluate our wonderful vine- yard resource to find innovative means of maximizing fruit quality in our wines." Brand Pitch Brand Pitch A Joint Initiative by BeverageTradeNetwork.com and Wine Australia for the U.S. Market Down Under If you are interested in tasting Leconfield Wines, Wine Australia will be hosting importer tastings for new brands in New York on January 21 and San Francisco on January 26. Please visit BeverageTradeNetwork.com/ WineAustralia for details. Leconfield Winemakers Paul Gordon and Tim Bailey. PHOTO COURTESY OF LECONFIELD PTY LTD Leconfield: Home of Richard Hamilton Wines Why Importers Should Add Leconfield and Richard Hamilton Wines to Their Portfolio: Richard Hamilton Estate Range: Offering great value wines at good prices, the Richard Hamilton Estate Range is a consistent performer for the company. Our strongest export brand, the wines have strong brand awareness and customer loyalty. The Richard Hamilton SV Range features the company's "story wines," which reflect the family's history in the wine industry. These wines are currently available only at the cellar door and to mail list customers and selected restaurants. Leconfield Wines: The Leconfield label is iconic and well recalled. Many are surprised it has only been in existence since 1976. There has been minor evolution since its launch by Sydney in the late 1970s, but the focus is still strongly on the epi- center of its winemaking, the Leconfield winery. The label graces the Coonawarra Cabernet, McLaren Vale Shiraz, Coonawarra Merlot, Coonawarra Riesling and Coonawarra Chardonnay. SYN: "Serious wines with a sense of humor." The SYN duo is now the company's strongest brand in the independent off-premise market. Marketing Plan and Support: Leconfield Wines has in place a detailed marketing and communications plan which encompasses trade, consumer and media activity, and utilizes a wide range of promotional tools. For more information and presentation on Leconfield and Richard Hamilton Wines, see BeverageTradeNetwork.com/WineAustralia. The Pitch—