Broadening Samoa’s wine range

By Sina Sevaaetasi 27 November 2016, 12:00AM

A night out on the rock with good company and refreshing wine is the perfect recipe for a great time.  

That’s exactly what happened at the Glass Lounge on Thursday Night where Liquor Planet introduced the award-winning Soho wine range from New Zealand to the local market. 

Talei Lesa Ah Liki, Managing director of Liquor Planet, hosted a wine tasting session for business owners and the like to try out the magnificent wine. 

“The owner, Rachel Carter, named the company Soho because some of the best times of her life were in Soho, Manhattan, London and Japan,” said Ms. Ah Liki.

Talei and Rachel Carter have a lot in common. They are both successful business women breaking into an industry that hasn’t always been to kind to women.  Now, the dynamic duo are working hand in hand to broaden the range of wines offered in Samoa. 

Ms. Ah Liki said she found Soho on a trip overseas in New Zealand.  

“Whenever I‘m in New Zealand or Australia I always look for new wines for the shop. So I try it and like it.  That’s when I wanted to bring the wine to Samoa just to diversify our range in the shop.  That’s basically it, to give our customers a choice.”

Not only is she looking to give her customers a choice but also for visitors and travelers coming to Samoa who are accustomed to seeing Soho offered in restaurants and resorts.  

 “A few of the locals that I’ve talked to while we were setting up this event had already heard of it but it’s just not here in Samoa. They’re quite excited to come out tonight and try it.  If they like it and the price is right, then they’re willing to put it on and give their customers a range of wine.” 

Ms. Ah Liki is working closely with Rachel Carter and is ecstatic to be tapping into the wine market in Samoa. She mentioned, “When I did contact her in the beginning about trying to get Soho into Samoa, she was like I’m so happy.  We’ve been working closely with Fiji but looking for someone to bring the wine into Samoa.”

“There are a lot of Samoan people who really love their wine now. Before it was like saying  wine is just wine.  But now we have a lot of upwardly mobile, young, middle class people who know their choice of wine.  Even my older aunties are wine connoisseurs.”

“There is a market for good wine.  Especially for the Christmas season coming in, we’ll launch it. Something different.”  

The three  most popular Soho wines that are now available in Samoa are: 

• Stella Sauvighon Blanc: Notes of fresh herb, elderflower,& river stone, bursting with juicy fruit salad flavors --- melon, white, peach, passion fruit and citrus peel.  Lovely saline focus yet gentle In expression & taste.  

• Havana Pinot Noir:  Lifted red cherries with earthy, forest floor complexity & lot of intensity on the nose.  The palate is full & rich with an excellent tannin structure which supports lovely fruit core of ripe red fruits.  

• Jagger Pinot Gris:  Redefined and exotic scents of spice, baked pear, white flower and mandarin peel- reminiscent of old fashioned ginger beer .  A textural yet delicate palate given lift by a fresh acidity & lively citrus finish. 

By Sina Sevaaetasi 27 November 2016, 12:00AM

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