Here to break tradition for the better, the Uncommon is paving the way for a new era of New Zealand wine, offering Kiwis a convenient, single serve wine option that’s perfect for those moments when the bottle just doesn’t suit. The sustainable new wine brand disrupting the wine industry with their unbelievably good NZ wine is… cans.
Launched last month with two bubbly varietals from Marlborough – a deliciously dry blushing Pinot Noir Rosé and a crisp, refreshing Sauvignon Blanc – this new drop is the unexpected tipple Kiwi’s never knew they needed, until now…
With the trend for canned RTDs and craft beer taking off locally, it’s clear that Kiwis are seeking out convenient, portable, and more sustainable drink options. Noticing a gap in the market for a premium canned wine offering, Hannah Sweeney, having recently returned home from the UK, and business partner Anna Campbell, teamed up to launch The Uncommon Wine of NZ.
What is your background and what led you to launch The Uncommon Wine of New Zealand?
Hannah: My background is in communications, and I’ve spent the last decade over in London working as a publicist for an agency representing a lot of great brands within the alcohol sector. One of my clients was The Uncommon Wine of England – I supported them with their launch of canned wines into the market there. I worked with the team there for a few years and when the time came to move home, the opportunity arose to partner with them to bring the brand to life down here in New Zealand – working with local winemakers, farmers growers and suppliers. So, we really are a Kiwi brand through and through.
How did you meet and what led you to collaborate on this brand together?
Anna: Hannah and I have known each other since we were little. Our parents were friends, and then we became best friends when we started at the same school together. We have always both been very ambitious and for years we’ve been dreaming up ways we can go into business together. So, when Hannah told me about the opportunity to bring The Uncommon to life in NZ, I jumped at the opportunity. My background as a Marketing Strategist compliments Hannah’s skillset, and by nature we’re both go-getters. It’s working very well and we’re having fun along the way!
How long has the brand been in development?
It’s taken us about 8-9 months to get from concept to can in hand. An incredibly busy but enjoyable year – this is both of our first time manufacturing a product and we have certainly learned a lot along the way!
How did you choose the wines that you have?
We’re both wine lovers, so to us, creating a product that we both truly wanted to drink and felt proud to serve friends was non-negotiable. We conducted focus groups and surveys (alongside a lot of desktop research into kiwis’ wine buying habits) and landed on two wines that we feel have mass appeal in their nature. We found our winemaker Digger Hennessey and worked with him on developing the wines – enjoying a lot of sampling along the way!
Where are the wines produced?
Both of our wines are born in Marlborough – arguably our most famous wine region here in NZ.
Why did you select a can for the format?
Seeing the huge number of canned drinks on the market, paired with the amazing qualities a can brings to the table, we saw a great opportunity to add to the mix with a delicious and beautiful wine range in cans.
Cans are endlessly recyclable, lightweight, space saving, portable and convenient. They’re easy to transport around the country – with no fear of broken bottles along the way.
Why is it considered a more sustainable option?
There are so many sustainable proof points for cans! From limiting wastage and spoilage, to eliminating the need for single use protective packaging and loss through breakage, to their lower carbon footprint.
Glass makes up approximately half of the carbon footprint of each bottle of wine produced, and arguably the most exciting thing about the can is that it has a carbon footprint 60% lower than glass bottles. This lowers the carbon footprint of wine production by around 30% compared to traditional bottles – which is incredible!
Cans are also recycled 330 times more energy efficiently, saving 14,000 kilowatt hours of energy compared to only 42 kilowatt hours saved in recycling glass. What’s more, our cans can be recycled and back on the shelf living their new life in as little as 6 weeks.
What would you pair the wines with for summer entertaining?
We’re big fans of sharing platters with friends, especially over the summer months, as it means there something for everyone with less fuss!
Cold and cured meats are perfect with a light crisp Rosé like Twiggy, as their saltiness enhances the wines flavours. Something like Prosciutto is perfect – and if you want to take it up a notch, try wrapping it around some sliced melon with mozzarella.
Sauvignon Blanc is very versatile and can pair with almost anything seafood, and with light green herby accompaniments like pesto and hummus. Cheeses also work well with a Sauvignon Blanc as they balance out the acidity nicely – something like Cheddar, Havarti and a favourite of ours is the Cumin Gouda which is very moreish! Creamy Camembert style cheeses are particularly delicious with sparkling wines too, you can take our word for it!
Where can people find The Uncommon Wine of NZ?
You can purchase our wines from us directly at wearetheuncommon.co.nz – and we will soon be in liquor retailers across the country! Keep an eye on our website and social feed for new retailer partners of ours. And if you’re heading to the Marlborough Wine & Food Festival in February or Indulge Food, Wine and Design festival in Auckland in March, swing by our stand for a can and say hi!
