Hattingley Valley Raises the Bar for US Exports

Attendance at this year’s Nantucket Wine Festival is part of the English wine producer’s commitment to sell its premium sparkling wines into the US market which constitutes around 15% of its total sales. Working in conjunction with importer & distributor Valkyrie Selections, Hattingley has also modified its labelling for the US market and is piloting a more contemporary look to appeal to a younger, affluent and visionary audience.

Hattingley Valley Wines is delighted to have been accepted to participate in the celebrated 2018 Nantucket Wine Festival, now in its 22nd year. Hattingley Valley is the first English winery to participate in the Luminary programme of this year’s festival. On 19th May, the winery is to sponsor a ‘British Brunch’ for 300 people to celebrate the Royal Wedding at which there will be a live screening of the Royal procession and wedding at St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle. Guests will have the opportunity to taste Hattingley Valley’s range including the increasingly rare, award-winning Blanc de Blancs 2011. These wines will be paired with delicious cuisine and wedding cake prepared by guest chefs from: SRV, Cultivar, the Red Lion Inn, NAHITA, AMIE Bakery and Island kitchen. The brunch will be hosted by Hattingley Valley’s Head Winemaker, Emma Rice, alongside Sales & Export Manager, Gareth Maxwell.

Emma enthuses, “I am really excited that Hattingley Valley is the first English winery to be involved in the Luminary programme at the prestigious Nantucket Wine Festival. To host a British Brunch on the day of the Royal Wedding and raise a glass of Hattingley’s finest English sparkling wine as Harry and Meghan walk back down the aisle is doubly exciting.”

The renowned Nantucket Wine Festival held from 16 – 20th May is expected to attract in the region of 5,000 lovers of food and wine to the East coast island. It showcases award-winning food and world-class wines from around the globe.

Gareth elaborates on Hattingley’s drive to increase sales to the US: “From the outset, Hattingley Valley’s founder & chairman Simon Robinson, stated that exports are a significant factor in the company’s development and I firmly believe that the US is a major component of this initiative. In Valkyrie Selections, we have an importing partner which shares our vision and focus. I was delighted to work with the team there to explore the viability of a label with particular appeal to US wine lovers and am looking forward to attending a number of US wine events with Valkyrie over the coming months”.

Baron Ziegler, CEO, Valkyrie Selections adds “Now that we’re over a year in the market with the wines of Hattingley, we’re seeing an amazing amount of momentum building behind this exciting new category. The wines have always been extraordinary, and now we’re thrilled to say that the brand image, embodied by this exquisite new packaging, accurately reflects the quality and prestige of what’s in the bottle. Being invited to be a featured sponsor of the Nantucket Wine Festival is just one of the many high-profile appearances that we’ll make with the wines from Hattingley this year in the U.S. market.”

Hattingley has achieved key listings at several prestigious US venues such as Hearth and the Hound (LA), Slanted Door (San Francisco), Waypoint (Boston) Deux Ave (Boston), Inn at Little Washington (VA), Blackberry Farms (TN), Clocktower and Grand Central Oyster Bar (NYC).