The inaugural wine from the new imported Golden Frog Productions is Awning Estate Cabernet Sauvignon.
This wine is from the Apalta region located in Chile’s Colchagua Valley. To produce Awning, Golden Frog Productions partnered with Viña Ventisquero, a winery with estate vineyards in Apalta.
A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Merlot and Petit Verdot, the wine has blackberry notes, pepper and cassis aromas, the company says, complimented by structured tannins. All the fruit comes from Ventisquero’s low‐yielding vineyards located on steep, well‐drained slopes.
Awning takes its name from vine leaves that hang over the grapes, creating a natural sunshade during the hottest part of the day, allowing extended hang time and greater flavor development, the company says.
Awning Estate Cabernet Sauvignon is currently available in Conn., Fla., Ind., Ky., Mass., Maine, N.C., N.H., Ohio, S.C., Vt., and Wash. for the suggested retail price of $17 per 750-ml. bottle. The company is currently exploring distribution opportunities in several southern and western states.
Golden Frog Productions plans to launch wines from Spain and France in 2017.
Golden Frog Productions is committed to launching new brands while eliminating more than 85 percent of traditional importer margins to bring consumers these wines for up to one third less, the company says. “Most large wine importers have margins up to 45 percent to support their bloated infrastructures. Our margins are below 10 percent,” said company CEO Peter Click. “By taking only a small slice, we can pay wineries for quality grapes typically retailing for $25 per bottle, entice both distributors and retailers with outstanding margins and yet retail that $25 wine for $17. This makes us a compelling partner for both wineries and distributors.”