Accolade Wines Introduces Flagstone Wines From South Africa to U.S.

NAPA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Accolade Wines North America is introducing Flagstone wines from South Africa to the U.S. market this spring. The initial releases in the U.S. include three of the winery’s handcrafted signature blends and a Viognier, all from the Western Cape region of South Africa.

“We think there is a tremendous market opportunity for these delicious South African wines in the U.S.”

Highly regarded in South Africa, Flagstone was founded in 1998 by winemaker and Cape Town native Bruce Jack on the philosophy that wines should be made as an authentic reflection of their provenance, even if it means taking the hard path. “We believe in sustainability, biodiversity and, above all else that wine should do a small, simple thing – it should add joy to life,” says Jack.

Each Flagstone wine is handcrafted from fruit sourced from five core vineyards located along the Western Cape from Elim, the southernmost winegrowing area in South Africa, to one of the most easterly vineyard sites high in the Swartberg Mountains, to the Breede River Valley north of Cape Town.

The four distinctive wines coming to the United States are representative of the winery’s longstanding reputation for signature new world blends and old world varieties: The 2011 Noon Gun ($14), named after the Noon Gun cannon that sits atop Signal Hill in the center of Cape Town and fires one shot each day at noon (much to the surprise of tourists and visitors), is a floral white blend of 45% Chenin Blanc, 29% Sauvignon Blanc, 21% Viognier, 5% Nouvelle with a crisp, zesty finish. The 2012 Longitude ($14) is a nod to naval navigation and features the winery’s Time Ball Tower on its label. It is a silky red blend of 38% Shiraz, 37% Cab Sauvignon, and 25% Malbec.

The 2009 Dragon Tree ($18) takes its name from the Dragon Tree given to the Port Captain of Cape Town by a passing ship's captain over 100 years ago in hopes of securing a well-positioned berth in Cape Town Harbor. This rich, ruby red wine is a blend of 37% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Shiraz and 27% Pinotage. 2012 The Rumour Mill ($18), crafted with 100% Viognier, is a medium bodied, aromatic wine with a fresh acidity whose name was inspired by the colorful, yet effective way to share news and discoveries.

“We think there is a tremendous market opportunity for these delicious South African wines in the U.S.,” noted Reid Stinnett, Vice President of Marketing at Accolade Wines NA. “Flagstone wines are a true representation of South Africa. Handcrafted and of high quality, each Flagstone bottling has a rich story that helps bring the brand, and the region to life.”

Additional information on Flagstone Winery is available at www.flagstonewines.com.

About Accolade Wines North America

Drawing on a proud heritage with Hardys, one of the first wineries established in Australia, Accolade Wines has matured into a global wine company with some of the world’s best-known brands including Geyser Peak, Hardys, Banrock Station and XYZin among others, which are sold in over 80 countries, including Australia, the UK, Mainland Europe, the U.S., Canada, Japan and China. Accolade Wines North America, Inc is a California Corporation with its principal place of business at 1700 2nd Street, Suite 220, CA, 94558, USA. We invite you to visit our web site at AccoladeWinesNA.com.