Giesen Estate Wines, which supplies Sainsbury’s, Tesco, Ocado and other grocers operating in Europe, has hired wine expert Nikolai St George as its chief winemaker, bringing to the drinks company “a true understanding of the global wine market,” thedrinksbusiness.com reports.
St George, one of the most lauded figures in the New Zealand wine trade, comes from the Matua division of Treasury Wine Estates, the Australian multinational that controls brands such as Wolf Blass Wines, Penfolds Wines and Lindemans. He has been the Auckland Agricultural and Pastoral Association’s winemaker of the year for three years in a row, and is credited with producing the region's first Sauvignon Blanc.
Commenting on his appointment, St George said, “It was a tough decision after seven years with Matua, but it’s a fantastic opportunity to work with Giesen’s amazing vineyards and to be part of a privately owned company where decisions can be made quickly.
“Giesen has done extremely well and I want to help them build on that success.”
The owner and director of viticulture and winemaking at Giesen Wines, Marcel Giesen, said, “It’s an exciting time here at Giesen Wines. Nikolai will bring a wealth of knowledge and a true understanding of the global wine market that he has amassed over the years.
“His track record is impeccable and we can’t wait for him to become part of the team and help lead our next phase of development in the wine industry.”
© 2016 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Peter Donnelly. To subscribe to ESM: The European Supermarket Magazine, click here.
