By James Atkinson
Even without the Rolling Stones having played a concert in Australia, a wine produced to mark the band's 50th Anniversary has flown off the shelves at Dan Murphy's.
Dan Murphy's head of merchandise, Campbell Stott, spoke to TheShout last week, prior to yesterday's news that the Stones' tour of Australia had been postponed in tragic circumstances.
Stott said last week that Dan Murphy's had already sold out more than half its stock of the Rolling Stones' 50th Anniversary McLaren Vale Shiraz.
He said the wine had been even more successful than the AC/DC wines – also produced in partnership with leading Australian wine producer Warburn Estate – released a few years ago.
"AC/DC went really well, but this is a better quality offering. It’s really delivering above our expectations and the concerts haven’t actually started yet," Stott said.
He said the feedback from consumers about the wine itself had also been very positive.
"There's a balance between having a label association, which some people could view as a bit gimmicky, versus backing it up with the quality.
"We've really worked hard at putting that quality in the bottle. It's a great vintage 2012, and it's a McLaren Vale Shiraz; that’s been the keeper and that's what our customers are telling us."
The Rolling Stones' Australian tour was scheduled to begin in Perth today (March 19), but has been postponed until further notice.
The 50th Anniversary McLaren Vale Shiraz is available from Dan Murphy's for $15.70.