By Gwen O’Toole
Boutique New Zealand wine brand Stoneleigh has teamed up with designers Kelvin Ho and Jeremy Bull to create a luxury pop up bar that launched last week.
Building on the brand’s participation in a variety of Australian arts festivals this year, Stoneleigh has collaborated with Ho and Bull to create a fully functional, designer ‘pop-up’ bar known as the ‘Stoneleigh Lounge’, which is set to make a series of appearances around Australia.
The bar launched in Sydney last week and will travel to Melbourne in December before returning in time for the Sydney Festival in January.
A 40-foot portable shipping container lounge has been re-cycled and designed to provide visitors at its various locations with an innovative and ambient venue.
In addition to showcasing Stoneleigh’s wines, the luxury lounge also amplifies the unique story behind the brand, in particular, the Stoneleigh vineyard sun stones.
Located on the site of a former river bed, Stoneleigh takes its name from these smooth, pale, river stones that cover the ground.
“The Stoneleigh brand story is completely unique, so we’re really excited to be working with two of the country’s most sought after architects to bring the Stoneleigh brand to life,” said Stoneleigh brand manager, Pernod Ricard Australia, Katherine Candy.
The mobile lounge is just one of many initiatives Stoneleigh is running to expand its profile during the Spring/Summer 2009 period.
“We wanted to allow consumers to experience Stoneleigh in an environment reflecting the wine’s origins, while encompassing our brand positioning of accessible arts…which we are realising via our involvement in some of Australia’s most anticipated arts festivals,” said Candy.