Mateus, the renowned wine brand from Portugal by SoGrape, has recently reinforced its commitment to expanding its presence in India. In line with this objective, the head of Sales, Miguel Pinto, embarked on a three-day visit to India to engage with stakeholders in key cities such as Bangalore and Mumbai. During his visit, Pinto sought to build stronger relationships and explore opportunities to further grow the brand’s business in the country.
Speaking about his India visit, Miguel Pinto, Head of Sales, Mateus, said, “India is a key market for Mateus, and we are committed to building long-term relationships with our stakeholders here. We are thrilled to be partnering with Aspri Spirits, who share our vision for the brand and its potential in the Indian market. We believe that our wines offer a unique blend of tradition and innovation and it will be well received by Indian consumers.”
Mateus, known for its iconic Mateus Rosé Original, which has been a popular choice among consumers worldwide for over seven decades, also offers its Mateus Sparkling Rosé in India.
Rosé wine derives its pink color from the red grapes used in the winemaking process. However, unlike red wine, the grape skins are left in contact with the juice and pulp for a shorter duration, resulting in its distinct and recognizable hue. This is an intriguing fact about Rosé wine.
Mateus has achieved its success through two distinct elements. Firstly, the unique shape of its bottle is derived from the hip flasks that were carried by soldiers in World War I. Secondly, the winemakers use a blend of three locally grown Portuguese grapes, resulting in a wine with a smooth mouthfeel, fruity aroma, and zesty flavor, which gives Mateus its signature taste.
The brand’s sustainability initiatives are noteworthy, as they prioritize the use of rainwater to cultivate 70% of their vineyards’ produce, implement lightweight bottles in 43% of their Portugal vineyards, recover 96.4% of waste in Portugal, and employ 100% recycled shipping cartons.
Apart from being sustainable and high on innovation, the core philosophy of Mateus also focuses on responsible drinking. During his visit, Pinto also highlighted the importance of responsible drinking and stated, “We believe in promoting responsible drinking and educating consumers about the culture of wine. Mateus has a long-standing commitment to sustainability, and we are proud to be one of the world’s leading wine producers in this regard.”
To accomplish these objectives, Mateus has teamed up with Aspri Spirits, its exclusive distributor and marketer in India. Aspri Spirits possesses a robust distribution network and expertise in promoting high-end wines and spirits throughout India. Through its partnership with Mateus, Aspri Spirits aims to expand its portfolio and provide its customers with a broader range of top-quality wines.
Speaking about the partnership, Jackie Matai, Co-Founder of Aspri Spirits, said, “We are delighted to be associated with Mateus, which has a rich legacy of producing high-quality wines for over 80 years. We believe that Mateus’ portfolio of wines will cater to the evolving tastes of Indian consumers who are increasingly exploring new and exciting wines from around the world. We look forward to working closely with the Mateus team to establish the brand as a preferred choice for wine lovers in India.”
The success of the Mateus brand has played a significant role in promoting Portugal’s wineries on the global stage. This is exemplified by a report from IWSR, which reveals an astounding 511.9% growth in the Portuguese wine industry from 2020 to 2021. By partnering with Aspri Spirits, Mateus is now poised to expand its reach and make its mark in the Indian wine market.
Pinto’s trip to India and Mateus’ collaboration with Aspri Spirits demonstrate the brand’s dedication to broadening its reach in the country and offering Indian customers a greater variety of premium wines. As Mateus recently celebrated its 80th anniversary, the brand’s extensive experience and expertise in crafting exceptional wines for more than eight decades make it well-suited to meet the changing preferences of Indian consumers, who are increasingly seeking out new and intriguing wines from around the globe.
