The Food & Drink Innovation Network

November 3rd, 2011

A specialist UK merchant of half bottles of wine has announced the launch of its online shop www.halfwine.com, which is offering gift packs for wine drinkers in time for the festive season.

The site offers an exclusive range of wines that are not usually available in 37.5cl bottles on the high street.

halfwine.com gift packs have been designed to appeal as a present for health-conscious wine lovers who “value quality over quantity.”

Half bottles (37.5cl or two to three glasses) offer an amount for mature couples, those who live alone or are fed up with drinking the wine their partner prefers.

Gift packs can be selected by the consumer or they can choose from pre-selected sets:

• Ø Champagne Gift Pack (2 x 375ml) – Two half bottles (375ml) of Guy Charbaut NV, Cuvée de Réserve Brut 1er Cru Champagne can be delivered to anywhere in mainland UK for £34.90 including delivery; the same price as a medium sized bunch of flowers.

• Ø Bordeaux and Burgundy 2005 (4 x 375ml) – includes a half bottle of both Harmand-Geoffroy, Gevrey Chambertin; and Chateau le Chatelet Saint Emilion Grand Cru from the great 2005 vintage. Available on halfwine.com for £38.90 including delivery.

• Ø Dinner Gift Pack (4 x 375ml) – Start with a champagne aperitif Guy Charbaut NV, Cuvée de Réserve Brut 1er Cru; complement your starter with a Chablis – William Fevre 2009; enjoy your main with a Burgundy – Harmand-Geoffroy 2005, Gevrey Chambertin; and finish with a Sauternes, Chateau Sainte Helène 2007. Available on halfwine.com for £46.10.

• Ø halfwine.com Tasting Packs. Tasting packs offer a comparison of varieties and styles for consumers who are looking to widen their palate. They include four half bottles of fine wine selected by halfwine.com experts to compare and contrast different wine varieties and regions. Available from £33.30.

For a longer lasting wine gift, a subscription to the halfwine.com wine club can also be purchased.

Four or six half bottles cases containing white, red or mixed seasonal varieties can be delivered to the subscribers’ door every month.

The regularly updated range of recommended wines has been selected to offer examples and recognisable flavour and aroma characteristics of the most popular wine varieties and styles.

The halfwine.com range comprises old and new world Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Shiraz, champagne, sparkling and dessert wine.

There are also ‘guest’ wines from lesser known varietals such as Riesling, Gewürztraminer, Gamay and Sangiovese.

Wines can be bought singularly, by the case and as a tasting or gift-pack selection.

The brand believes there are a range of benefits to half bottles of wine:

• “Drink better wine” – Half bottles encourage consumers to choose quality over quantity.

• “Reduce wine wastage” – Even if wine saving methods are used, opened bottles of wine degenerate quickly, which negatively alters the taste of the wine if the full bottle is not required.

• “Healthier lifestyle choices” – With government initiatives such as drinkaware highlighting the dangers of long term excessive drinking, the need to limit intake is more pertinent than ever before. Half bottles of wine allow consumers to enjoy wine in moderation.

• “Enjoy increased variety” – Half bottles allow consumers to broaden their palate and try new varieties in a more cost effective way.

• “Save money” – Half bottles of fine wines are better value than regular sized bottles if consumers do not wish to finish the whole bottle.

• “Ready to drink” – Half bottles reach their peak faster than 75cl bottles so mature red wines can be consumed sooner, known as accelerated maturation.

A 37.5cl bottle of wine is a quantity for people who enjoy matching complementary wines with different home-cooked dishes.

The handy size makes half bottles more convenient for picnics, theatre-outings or even at the end of a dinner party when opening another full bottle would be too much.

For more information click here to visit the website.