Deutz returns to Australia after three years

Champagne house Deutz returns to Australia after a three year hiatus having signed a distribution partnership with Calabria Family Wine Group late last year.

Deutz is the latest addition to Calabria's Vintners & Co Merchants portfolio of international brands (it was previously distributed by Quality Estate Distributors) and the Calabria Family Wine Group plans to drive Deutz’s strengths in the premium off-premise market and expand its brand footprint in the on-premise channel.

“We are honoured to be working with the Deutz team to bring this iconic house back to Australia. The Deutz name has a long and storied history of distinguished winemaking spanning over a century. We know there’s been tremendous growth for premium French Champagne in Australia and we feel passionate about making the Deutz name part of that success,” third-generation Head of Marketing for Calabria Family Wine Group, Elizabeth Calabria said.

The first selection of cuvées landing for distribution in Australia include the Champagne Deutz NV Rosé, Champagne Deutz NV Brut Classic (including demi bottles), Champagne Deutz Brut Millésimé 2014 and Champagne Deutz 2011 Amour De Deutz Brut Millésimé.

Champagne Deutz was founded in 1838 by young entrepreneurs William Deutz and Pierre-Hubert Geldermann in the Aÿ region of Champagne. Today it is owned by the Rouzaud family, owners of Louis Roederer Champagne and is managed since by the Rouzaud ex-right-hand person, CEO Fabrice Rosset.

Under Mr Rosset's guidance, Deutz has increased production from 600,000 bottles per annum to 2.86m, with no sacrifice to the consistent quality of the wine, say Calabria.

Deutz Chef de Cave, Michel Davesne has spearheaded the winemaking of the prestigious house since 2003, focusing on wines with elegance, finesse and depth of character.

“Our philosophy at Deutz is about harmony, focusing on the art of assemblage to bring the pieces of elegance, finesse, purity and a powerful mouthfeel together seamlessly in the finished wine. We aim to craft fresh, beautiful, distinctive champagnes one can enjoy over a meal or on their own, and this begins by carefully managing our own vineyard sites and working closely with our grower partners to produce outstanding fruit," he said.

“Champagne is a fine art here at Deutz and we are thrilled to be bringing our love of this craft to Australian drinkers in this partnership with Calabria Family Wines.”

The distribution partnership formally commences this month with stock to land in market by February 2022, catching the tail end of the Australian summer.