Tulloch unmoved by Verdelho snobs

By James Atkinson

Tulloch Wines will maintain its strong commitment to Verdelho, which general manager Christina Tulloch says will definitely be the Hunter Valley's standout variety this vintage.

Tulloch told TheShout that her family is the largest producer of Verdelho in NSW, and with good reason.

"Our commitment to it remains really strong because consumers love it," she said.

"Whether or not it gets awards at wine shows or is given credence by the wine critics, consumers really enjoy it, and to us that's important – giving people what they want to drink."

She said the Verdelho harvested in the current vintage has been of exceptional quality across the entire Hunter region, which has once again faced challenging weather conditions.

"I think that'll upset a few people because they don't like to see it as one of the serious varieties, but it does very well in the Hunter," Tulloch said.

"It can cope with those difficult conditions and it tends to ripen early."

Meanwhile, Tulloch Wines has also announced the appointment of Steve George to the newly created position of business development manager.

Based in the Hunter Valley, George will focus on developing and supporting new opportunities for the Tulloch brand in its key market of NSW, aiming to grow brand awareness of Tulloch Wines as a producer of premium varietal wines.

Christina Tulloch said the extra resource is an important step in the evolution of the brand's 117-year history. 

"We believe investing in our brand and the people who bring a brand to life is a key driver to success in such a competitive market place."

George joins the team at Tulloch after a five-year stint in Queensland with Peter Lehmann Wines as state market manager and prior to that, with McWilliam's Wines as a territory manager.