NZwineonline.com.au Raises Its Stocks On Nick's Back

Online, February 23, 2011 (Newswire.com) - Leading online purveyor of quality New Zealand wines, the aptly named NZwineonline.com.au has secured an industry first, by striking an arrangement with leading wine writer, commentator and judge, Nick Stock, whereby he will review the company's wines 'live and unedited' online each month.

Stock, who is being paid by NZwineonline, was motivated by the opportunity of being completely candid in his assessment of nzwineonline's vast selection of wines.

"The opportunity to bring wine reviewing to life with NZwineonline is one that most writers don't get," said Stock.

"It's very candid, spontaneous and entertaining and, call me a geek, but I get a thrill out of opening wines in front of a rolling camera and telling it like it is.

"I made it clear to NZwineonline that my opinions can't be bought and they had to either accept what I say about the wines as I open them, or find someone else."

It is a bold and innovative step to create a monthly video of "live wine reviews" but NZwineonline managing director, Richard Smith, believes the raw and unscripted reviews will bring credibility to his company's offerings across the board.

"I am very confident in the wines we sell and believe that the vast majority of them will be well received by Nick Stock," he said.

"If there are wines that don't meet with his approval, then so be it. That gives credibility to the exercise and shows that there is total impartiality in what he is saying."

"This isn't about money, rather, it's something that will hopefully provide other benefits to both sides. For Nick, it continues to grow his already substantial professional resume and for us, it will hopefully demonstrate that the wines we sell are the best of the best and represent good value for money."

The reviews will be recorded without any editing of Stock's commentaries and aired on the company's website and subsequently housed on YouTube.

"There's no turning back and no prisoners taken once we start," Stock explains.

"I'm not going to compromise my reputation by talking up poor wines and there may be one or two that will never see the light of day once I've tried them, but the thrill of tasting the important and great wines will translate pretty effortlessly for the camera.

"I'm known for telling it like it is and I hope to bring an honest, articulate and at times cheeky edge to the wine tastings, which will in turn engage the viewer and hopefully leave them with a better understanding of the product."

NZwineonline's sales have continued to grow exponentially, in spite of a generally difficult retail environment, with sales for July 2009 to December 2010 up 67% on the preceding period and December sales more than double the previous year.

The first of Stock's 120 reviews and commentaries have been published on the company's website as well as YouTube and are already attracting significant interest.

Nick Stock

Nick Stock is one of Australia's most prolific wine writers, judges and commentators, whose frank and fearless style has made him one of the most popular and widely read Australian wine critics, culminating in his award for World's Best Drinks Journalist in 2007 at the World Food Media Awards. Author of the Penguin Good Australian Wine Guide, the 2010 edition includes tastings from the best of Australia, New Zealand, Italy, Spain and France and includes a chapter on cellaring.

NZwineonline.com.au

Australian owned & operated, the company focuses on providing NZ wine lovers with a great online resource for all things NZ wine. Presenting a wide range of NZ wine regions, key varietals, vintage reports and upcoming NZ-focused wine events across Australia, NZwineonline offers customers the largest range of New Zealand wines in Australia - over 200 of them in fact!
Offering a range of wine related services and eleven NZ Wine Club options, with quarterly deliveries to the customer's door, NZwineonline makes buying the very best from New Zealand's vineyards, affordable and convenient.

For more information or to speak with Richard Smith please contact Nic Karandonis at Power PR on 02 9550 1300