London Olympics 2012: Official wines chosen to make this year a vintage Games

 
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25 June 2012

They are the first “official” Olympic wines since the modern Games began in 1896.

About one million bottles each of a red, a white and a rosé have been imported for sale at the Olympic Park in Stratford and virtually every other 2012 venue.

The wines, supplied by London distributor Bibendum, are all from the 2012 vintage. The red, a shiraz tempranillo, is from Brazil, the next host country, while the white, a chenin blanc, and the rosé are both from Stellenbosch in South Africa.

They will be the only wines on sale at Games venues, mainly in 187ml “mini bottles” priced at about £4.50. Some will be sold in full-size 75cl bottles at just under £20.

Kirstie Papworth, commercial director of Bibendum, said they had been chosen with the “taste profile” of the typical Olympic spectator in mind.

She said: “The rosé is slightly sweeter and fruitier but not too sweet; the chenin blanc is very crisp and fresh; and the red is really smooth, soft and rounded.”

Alcoholic content, at no more than 12.5 per cent, is slightly lower than many New World wines “to promote responsible drinking”. Both the white and rosé have been produced under Fairtrade principles, raising £36,000 for the workers at Stellenrust vineyard.

Its general manager is a former middle and long distance runner who represented South Africa, Kobie van der Westhuizen.

The only venues where the wine will not be sold are Hampden Park football stadium in Glasgow, which does not have a licence, and the whitewater canoe course in Lee Valley.

Bibendum managing director Michael Saunders said the aim was to “surprise people with the quality of the wine on offer”.

The rosé is described by Bibendum as tasting of “explosive fruit with hints of peach melba, strawberry and cream”.

The red is said to be “ripe, juicy and fresh with bags of fruit flavours”.

Both the bottles and the tops are fully recyclable.

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