Why [yellow tail] and Domino's are teaming up

Australian wine brand [yellow tail] and pizza giant Domino’s have teamed up for an unlikely collaboration in some US markets.

The [yellow tail] team has introduced a red bland in a 1.5-litre bottle "designed to pair best with a traditional Domino's cheese pizza as well as a variety of popular toppings".

"At [yellow tail], we believe that seriously good wine doesn't need to be so serious," says Dan Kleinman, chief brand officer, for US distributors Deutsch Family Wine & Spirits.

"We're thrilled to be partnering with Domino's, a brand loved by customers for interesting and exciting creations, to make the everyday pizza night more convenient, special and, most importantly, more fun."

Some of the new bottles will feature the Twist.Tap.Order. cap, a smart technology that connects with the Domino’s app. Customers can quickly place a pizza order by twisting off and tapping the cap on a smartphone. That feature will start on Monday in US market, including Florida, Washington, DC., Nebraska, Wyoming and Oregon, a media release says.

"Domino's is known for innovations," says Kate Trumbull, executive vice president, chief marketing officer for Domino's.

"We're always looking for ways to make ordering easier than ever, and 'Twist.Tap.Order.' does that. It's all about convenience, and we're excited to give customers yet another fun way they can order their favourite pizza."

If your are in the US, you can check out www.yellowtailwine.com/us/dominos/

Big-selling [yellow tail] on a sustainable wine journey

If you think about [yellow tail] as an industrial wine brand then you might need to think again.

Affordable, popular around the world, and with a sweet, people-pleasing accent, [yellow tail] is a divisive brand.

But [yellow tail] producer - Australia’s largest family-owned winery, Casella Family Brands (CFB) - has just earned Sustainable Winegrowing Australia certification for its wineries, vineyards, and grape supply.

Starting with the 2025 vintage release, wines from [yellow tail], Peter Lehmann Wines, Brand’s Laira, Morris of Rutherglen, Baileys of Glenrowan, Casella Family Wines, and Atmata will carry the Sustainable Winegrowing Australia certification.

Sustainability Manager Joey Sergi said the certification was a significant step in the company’s sustainability journey.

“After investing in installing our large-scale solar farm last year, we’ve focused on achieving Sustainable Winegrowing Australia certification across our wineries and grower base," he said.

"Consumers are increasingly choosing brands that prioritise sustainability, and with Sustainable Winegrowing Australia certification, they can trust our wines are produced with environmental care.”

Mardi Longbottom, general manager Industry Development and Support at the Australian Wine Research Institute, which manages the technical aspects of Sustainable Winegrowing Australia, says: “We are encouraged by the momentum and increasing ambition of our growing membership and are confident we will achieve world-leading recognition.

"By purchasing wines from a certified producer, consumers can feel confident that they’re supporting sustainable-minded growers and winemakers, who are on a journey to shape the Australian wine community for good.”

Jade Rogge, viticulturist and winemaker at Peter Lehmann Wines, said: “We recognise the time and investment in the training and auditing process; however, it is an important future step for all of our brands as we progress our sustainability journey.

"At its core, the program is about adopting innovative, sustainable practices to safeguard the land we depend on and ensuring that it remains healthy, productive, and valuable for future generations.”

Casella family switches on to solar power

Casella Family Brands, the home of [yellow tail] wine, today switched on the largest solar facility in the Australian beverage industry at Yenda, in New South Wales.

As part of Casella's commitment to achieving Net-Zero emissions by 2050, the new 8,740-panel solar facility will provide clean, renewable electricity to the company’s Riverina production site.

“Switching on our multi-million dollar invested solar facility in Yenda - the largest solar facility in the Australian beverage market - is a major step forward for the industry and our business,” said John Casella, CEO of Casella Family Brands.

“We’re in a stable position, and this investment has been made with a long-term strategic outlook to support our brands and the Australian wine sector.

“We have long invested in the regions where we operate, supported our growers during challenging market conditions, and will continue building on the stable base we have to ensure the longevity of the sector.

"Using clean energy will result in substantial long-term cost savings for the business. Overall, integrating solar power into our business's energy strategy will bring financial, environmental, and strategic benefits that contribute to long-term success and competitiveness.

"As a family-owned business, we’re committed to playing a role in ensuring the resilience of the Australian wine industry for generations to come and striving to ensure a sustainable global wine sector.”

The facility is capable of generating 11.53 GWh of clean electricity per year, which will offset 7800 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions, which is enough to meet the electricity needs of approximately 1900 Australian homes, or equivalent to planting 325,000 trees.

Casella Family Brands owns [yellow tail], Peter Lehmann Wines, Brand’s Laira of Coonawarra, Baileys of Glenrowan and Morris of Rutherglen as well as brewing several beer brands. 

Unlikely playmates: Sophie Monk and [yellow tail] wines

Talk about unlikely bedfellows.

How about Sophie Monk and [yellow tail] wines?

For those playing outside Australia, Sophie is a brash blonde former pop singer and TV personality.

And for those who have been living under a rock, [yellow tail] is Australia's best-selling wine brand around the world. A little sweet and hugely popular.

[yellow tail] has just launched a new campaign to show Australians that "there is great tasting wine for everyone, and you don’t need to compromise on quality to find your perfect [wine] match".

Coming on board as the brand’s first Australian ambassador, Monk will star in [yellow tail]’s new campaign ‘Easy to Love’, which will centre around an imaginary matchmaking game show.

The show features Monk as both the host and the five contestants, each representing a different [yellow tail] wine varietal, as Sophie looks to find her perfect [wine] match.

OK. I'm obviously not the target audience.

“What I admire most about [yellow tail] is that like me, it's a brand that doesn’t take itself too seriously," says the TV star.

"Wine has always been about sharing a few laughs with friends or marking special moments with family – it doesn’t need to be stuffy and complicated…just really delicious.”

"When it comes top the ideal wine companion, you need to explore what you like and don’t like. Some wines are better suited to certain personalities or preferences, while others are best enjoyed on certain occasions. My advice is to not overthink it, discover the world of wine and what match works for you and your tastebuds.”

So there you have it. Wine advice from Love Island. Love it or leave it.

www.yellowtailwine.com/au/.

[yellow tail] moves into the NOLO wine space

You know the NOLO craze is getting serious when one of Australia's biggest wine brands enters the fray.

With the "‘live better and healthier" theme very much in vogue for 2023, lower alcohol wines are proliferating. 

Many people are looking to moderate their alcohol consumption.

Enter [yellow tail]'s Pure Bright range, which is not only lower in alcohol (a bit) but also appeals to the calorie conscious.

The [yellow tail] team from Casella Family Brands says that "lower in alcohol drinks are a great option for anyone who wants to be more conscious of their alcohol intake'.

Here's the spiel: "The wines allow people to enjoy and participate in the wine occasion, with the same great taste, just less alcohol and fewer calories."

The range retails for between $8-10 a bottle - which certainly makes it affordable. 

The chardonnay has 85 calories per serving and just 9.6% alc/vol. It has some melon flavours and does taste like wine, unlike some of its NOLO rivals. The 2021 Pinot Noir, meanwhile, would be most acceptable served over ice on a warm day. 

All the wines contain fewer than 100 calories per 150ml serve.

The website is selling the chardonnay, pinot grigio and sauvignon blanc. No fruit source indicated on the labels. There is also a sparkling wine, a shiraz and a pinot noir on offer.

See here for details: https://www.yellowtailpurebright.com/ 

The wines are available at Liquorland and First Choice stores, as well as at some independent outlets.  

 

Meet the new [yellow tail]: made in Chile, destined for China

Australia's biggest wine export brand, [yellow tail], has launched a Chilean-made range for the Chinese market to sidestep China’s punishing tariffs on Australian wine, Chinese wine website Vino Joy News reports.

The fruit is understood to have been sourced from one of Chile’s biggest producers, Santa Carolina, and the range will be called [yellow tail] World Series, Vino Joy said.



The move follows the move by another Australian wine giant, Treasury Wine Estates, to bypass tariffs by making Rawson’s Retreat wines in South Africa for the Chinese market.

Penfolds, with previous huge sales in the Chinese market, has revealed plans to launch its Chinese-made Penfolds wines in second half of the year.

The [yellow tail] range for China includes four varietals: cabernet sauvignon, shiraz, merlot and chardonnay.

In an email to Vino Joy News, Libby Nutt, general manager of marketing and export sales, said: “We have a fantastic and loyal consumer base in China, where [yellow tail] wines have been available since 2007.

"We are excited to launch [yellow tail] World Series so we can continue to offer consumers everything they have come to expect from the [yellow tail] brand - great wines full of flavour, from a brand with a fun and vibrant personality.”

[yellow tail] is owned by the Riverina-based Casella family.

The wine will be sold at RMB 53 (US$8) a bottle on China’s leading e-commerce platform JD.com, or RMB 318 (US$48) for a case of six.