Aussie wine needs support: Ross Brown

Retailers can help to support the Australian wine industry by hand-selling Australian brands over imported ones, according to Brown Brothers managing director Ross Brown.

"In times where our economy is under pressure there is an ever-increasing number of imported wines hitting our shores – not just from New Zealand, but Italian, Chilean, and French," Brown told TheShout.

"Show your shoppers some great examples of Australian Sauvignon Blanc, Australian Tempranillo, Pinot Grigio and Pinot Noir," he said.

"When we attempt to sell our wines into other markets their stores certainly support their own local wines, so a bit of patriotism in a time of great economic uncertainty definitely wouldn't hurt and we are confident customers would support it."

Brown said Brown Brothers was committed to understanding Australian wine drinkers and sharing their insights with retailers in a bid to boost both its own sales and that of its retail partners. 

"We must understand our shoppers better and share those insights with retailers to increase category value. This way our sales team calls should be more valuable to the retailers we visit as we focus on working together for better returns and stimulating purchase."

Source: The Shout, 25 February 2013