Exclusive: Eyeing Pinot Noir Growth, Oregon’s Sokol Blosser Forms Sales And Marketing Unit

Keen to leverage its prowess in the market’s high-flying premium Pinot Noir segment, Oregon wine producer Sokol Blosser is launching its own sales and marketing operation, effective today, amidst a period of change across the company. The move marks a departure from the Terlato Wines portfolio, where Sokol Blosser has been since 2001.

Sokol Blosser’s sales and marketing switch is one of several recent strategic changes for the winery. Earlier this year, second-generation co-presidents Alex Sokol Blosser and Alison Sokol Blosser officially completed their transition into their new roles as winemaker and CEO, respectively. The siblings are dedicated to returning Sokol Blosser’s focus to Pinot Noir, which currently accounts for around 20% of the winery’s business. Located across 86 acres in Oregon’s Dundee Hills sub-appellation, Sokol Blosser also produces Pinot Gris, Chardonnay and Riesling. Last year, the company produced around 62,000 cases, with annual production set to increase to 88,000 cases for 2015.

“Starting in 1997, we began replanting our entire estate vineyard, and now that everything is in full production, we have more Pinot Noir available for the market. Our true passion, and why my family got into the business in the first place, is Pinot Noir,” explains Alison Sokol Blosser, adding that the winery recently transitioned its flagship Dundee Hills Pinot Noir ($38) to 100% estate fruit, beginning with a 2013 vintage to be launched this September. Additional new releases include a 2012 Big Tree Block Pinot Noir and 2012 Orchard Block Pinot Noir, both of which retail at around $70 and begin rolling out into key U.S. markets this month.

Along with its flagship Pinot Noir offerings, Sokol Blosser is investing behind its accessibly-priced Evolution brand ($15-$19), which is set to receive a packaging refresh and label update this summer. As part of the update, Evolution White will be rebranded Evolution Lucky No. 9 and Evolution Red will become Evolution Big Time Red Blend. Additionally, in July, Sokol Blosser will extend the lineup with the launch of Evolution Pinot Noir.

Remarking on the decision to bring its sales and marketing in-house, Alison Sokol Blosser said, “It’s been a long and great relationship with Terlato with lots of growth for us the last 15 years, and we’re excited to embark on this next chapter.”

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Tagged : Oregon, Sokol Blosser, wine

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