Eco-credentials secure Four Seasons listing for Two Oceans

Strong eco-credentials have helped Distell-owned South African wine brand Two Oceans secure a major listing by the leading Four Seasons hospitality group.

Two Oceans Chardonnay, sold to patrons by the glass, and on the menu for all catered events, will be offered across 25 establishments in the United States and Caribbean for the next 24 months.

Already the top-selling South African wine range in Canada and a major player in Sweden and other Scandinavian countries, in the US, AC Nielsen data shows the brand recording year-on-year sales volume growth of 29% for the 13 weeks to September 17, 2011, compared with the 1.4% decline of the imported dry table-wine sector as a whole for the same period.

Globally, the brand continues to hold its own, despite the recession, says international marketing manager Jackie Olivier.

"Two Oceans has managed to defy the downturn in many major markets thanks to its compelling value offering and strong eco-credentials. All the grapes sourced for the range are accredited by South Africa’s Integrated Production of Wine (IPW) for sustainable wine-growing and winemaking practices.

"The wine will soon be sold exclusively in lightweight, fully recyclable 350g bottles, in line with our commitment to lightening our impact on the planet. By reducing bottle weight from the original 460g, we shall be saving the equivalent of 120kg of carbon equivalent emissions for every 1,000 bottles produced. These lightweight bottles will also feature biodegradable labels, inks and adhesives and they will be packed in biodegradable cartons."

All Two Oceans wines from the 2010 vintage carry the Sustainable Wine South Africa (SWSA) seal, backed by a sophisticated tracking system in which bottle contents can be traced back to source at every stage of the supply chain to confirm the integrity of their production.

Olivier said the Two Oceans relationship with Four Seasons was particularly apposite, given the hospitality group’s involvement with the environment.

"In South Africa, we support the WWF Southern African Sustainable Seafood Initiative (WWF SASSI) that helps to improve the conservation status of overexploited seafood in local oceans, while Four Seasons supports the sea turtle conservancy in the area near Nevis, their breeding ground in the eastern Caribbean.

"Our switch to lightweight bottles is reducing our carbon emissions, while Four Seasons has embarked on a campaign to plant 10 million trees in 34 countries to offset its carbon emissions."