Warburn Estate is diversifying its portfolio with the addition of Domaine Bousquet, an award winning range of organic wines from Mendoza, Argentina.

Consumers are moving towards living healthier and more sustainable lives, and because of this it’s no surprise that we’re seeing a greater demand for vegan and organic wines.

Research conducted by IWSR and commissioned by Millésime Bio, a trade show dedicated to organic wine, found that a total of one billion bottles of organic wine are expected to be consumed in 2023 – that’s a growth of 34 per cent from the 729 million bottles consumed in 2018.

In 2018, organic wine accounted for 2.6 per cent of global wine consumption, and this is expected to rise to 3.5 per cent by 2023. In 2013, it represented just 1.5 per cent.

With expected category growth like that, it’s no surprise that after just three weeks in market through Warburn Estate, the first container of Domaine Bousquet wines to land in Australia had already sold out – but never fear, there are already two more containers on the way.

What’s so special about Domaine Bousquet?

The Bousquet family has four generations of history in winemaking. They hail from the South of France, but when third generation winemaker Jean Bousquet took a vacation to Argentina in 1990, it was love at first sight – he had discovered his dream terroir to nurture organically-grown wines.

Today, Domaine Bousquet is run by Jean Bousquet’s daughter, Anne and her husband Labid Al Ameri.

It produces four million litres per year, exports 95 per cent of its volume to more than 50 countries, and is a leader in organic wine.

The 600 acre vineyards are located mainly in Tupungato, Gualtallary, Uco Valley – a region known for the exceptional quality of its reds and in particular, Malbec.

The vines are located at the foothills of the Andes Mountains, at an altitude of 4000 feet above sea level and are mostly hand harvested, which helps to maintain the integrity of Domaine Bousquet’s organic certification.

The Domaine Bousquet wine ranges that are now available in Australia through Warburn Estate are: Virgen (Malbec, Red Blend, Cabernet Sauvignon); Cameleon (Malbec, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon); and Cameleon Signature (Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon).

And according the Warburn Estate’s Executive Director Sales & Marketing, Francis Fusca: “They taste bloody awesome”.

“Warburn has never been known for wines that retail for more than $15, so for us it’s exciting to be able to go out to retailers and say, this is what we’ve got now.

“We are trying to diversify our business and we honestly believe that we needed something different to what we produce on a daily basis. So being offered an organic range – and they are the most awarded organic winery in the world – that was a real selling point for us,” says Fusca.

“The reception we’ve received from retailers has been incredible. Retailers are always looking for something new and especially unique, vegan friendly wine – it just ticks all of the boxes for us and it complements our range.”

This article also appears in the July issue of National Liquor News, which can be read in full online now.

Deborah Jackson

Deb joined Intermedia in 2015 as Editor of National Liquor News and Deputy Editor of The Shout. Since then, she has also worked as the Editor of Beer & Brewer and the New Zealand title, World of Wine....

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *