Red wine has a new crowd favourite. And it's not from Australia. The wine is called Fuzion and it hails from Argentina. Small quantities have been trickling into the stores over the summer and disappearing as fast as they arrived. You could be forgiven for thinking this was
some Apple-like marketing ploy but it wasn't. The Board simply could not get enough inventory to keep the shelves stocked for more than a few days. But now it has.
It's always interesting to see a new hot seller and to figure out how it happened. This time I think it has something to do with a consumer mood for something other than another Aussie. No matter how big the love, we eventually want something else. For many, Argentina has a
sexy aura, so it was a natural for our next wine affair. Being a cheap date helps too.
Fuzion is produced from a blend of Shiraz and Malbec grapes -– a perfect combination of familiarity and something new. Almost everyone loves the former and enthusiasts have been discovering the latter. Fuzion is also a clever brand name as it represents the holistic nature of our modern culture.
Nothing is ever an overnight success, however –- Fuzion has already been a number one seller in Quebec. We're just catching up. Monkey see, monkey do!
And how is the wine? Smooth, soft, with spicy sweet vanilla flavours. A knock-off of Aussie Shiraz! The way to sell millions of cases of a new wine is to give people what they are already enjoying in other brands.
You will certainly want to experience Fuzion for yourself but may I put in a plug for other similarly priced reds. They may not do the tango in Abruzzi, but this Italian province produces the world's greatest red wine bargains.
Familia Zuccardi 07 Shiraz/Malbec 'Fuzion', Argentina 83188 $7.45
Spinelli 07 Sangiovese, Abruzzi, Italy 621961 $6.95
Farnese 07 Montepulciano d'Abruzzo, Italy 621912 $7.55
Last Saturday at Vintages. For a super rich, plumy/sweet, edition of Malbec check out the following blockbuster:
Dona Paula 06 Malbec, Mendoza, Argentina. (661819 $16.95).
More recommendations are posted on www.billysbestbottles.com.
Check out these upcoming wine events: Gourmet Food & Wine Expo (my seminar on Wine and Music is Friday, November 21) and U of T's Hart House wine lectures (my seminar is Thursday, November 27). See my website for details.
Just in: Billy's Best Bottles Wines for 2009 – more than 300 recommendations for best buys at the LCBO – plus winery tour info for Niagara, Prince Edward County and Lake Erie North Shore. Order ten or more copies from www.billysbestbottles.com and pay only $12.95 each.
