Award-Winning New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc Added to Black Box Portfolio

Black Box Wines, America’s first premium and now best-selling 3L box wine, is excited to announce the addition of the 2008 New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc to its portfolio. Additionally, new vintages for Black Box favorites - 2007 Central Coast Shiraz, 2008 Monterey County Chardonnay and 2007 California Cabernet Sauvignon are all now available nationwide.

 
New Zealand is world-renown for producing some of the most distinctive styles of Sauvignon Blanc, which can be attributed to the long growing season and cool maritime climate that provide ideal conditions for grape growing. Fruit was harvested from East Coast regions including Hawkes Bay, Marlborough and Gisborne. With this new offering, Black Box will be providing consumers with the first and only New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc in a 3L box continuing their mission to scour the globe to find the best wines, at the best possible price.

“In today’s economy, consumers want affordable wines without having to sacrifice on quality,” said Kris Kato, lead winemaker. “With Black Box, we are able to offer customers high-quality wines from world class growing regions at half the price of bottled wine. Our new 2008 New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc is a perfect example of this.”

Premium 3-liter box wines continue to transform the table wine business, with Black Box leading the category. According to IRI, the total premium 3-liter box wine category saw 28.8 percent growth in 2008, measured by dollar sales, with Black Box outpacing the category with growth at 35 percent during the same time period. (Source: IRI Scan Data, Total U.S. Food & Drug, ending Jan. 25, 2009).

Black Box Wines repeatedly earn praise from both consumers and wine experts. The wines have earned multiple Gold and Silver medals over the years at national wine competitions, and garnered 12 “Best Buy” designations from Wine Enthusiast magazine since 2004. Each box of wine is the equivalent of four 750ml bottles and stays fresh for four weeks after opening, allowing wine drinkers to enjoy a glass of wine anytime without worrying about waste.

THE WINES:
2008 New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, $24.99* (or the equivalent of $6.25 per bottle)
The Sauvignon Blanc is a fresh and vibrant wine featuring aromas of herbs and tropical fruit. This wine balances vibrant fresh fruit sweetness with a refreshing dry finish.

2008 Monterey County Chardonnay, $24.99* (or the equivalent of $6.25 per bottle)
The Chardonnay opens with tropical aromas of pineapple, apricot, lemon zest and vanilla. On the palate, the Chardonnay is light and clean with hints of pineapple, green apple, tart lemon and lemon blossoms with a touch of sweetness on the finish.

2007 Central Coast Shiraz, $24.99* (or the equivalent of $6.25 per bottle)
The Shiraz displays aromas of black cherry and currants with hints of vanilla and toasty oak. Lush dark berry and plum flavors combined with full tannins lead to a lasting finish.

2007 California Cabernet Sauvignon, $24.99* (or the equivalent of $6.25 per bottle)
The Cabernet is a full-bodied wine displaying lovely aromas of black currants with hints of vanilla and toasty oak. Flavors of juicy red berries and chocolate combine with smooth tannins, leading to a soft and lingering finish.
* SRP (Suggested Retail Price)

Black Box led the premium 3L box wine revolution in 2003 by introducing a Napa Valley Chardonnay to much acclaim. Today, the Black Box portfolio includes Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio, Merlot, Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon and now Sauvignon Blanc, all sourced from a variety of the world’s premier appellations including Napa Valley, Sonoma County, Central Coast, Italy, California and now, New Zealand. Black Box Wines are distributed in the U.S. by Constellation Wines U.S.