Stellen Fine Wines' exciting new cider, Tell's, is set to take on the big boys in the South African cider market.
The six per cent ABV off-dry thirst-quencher is named after William Tell. This expert marksman, of Swiss legend, shot an apple off his son's head with a crossbow, to save them both from execution at the hands of an Austrian tyrant whose hat they had refused to bow to.
'We admire the brave, stick-it-to-the-man, spirit of William Tell and like him we're standing up for what we believe,' says Rudolph du Toit, national marketing manager for the company. 'We're not just selling an artfully crafted, refreshing cider, we're introducing a green-friendly, planet-conscious and far more convenient packaging option to the cider market.'
As far as Stellen Wines knows, Tell's is the first and only cider in South Africa to be marketed in a bottle made of Polyethylene Terephthalate (better known by the acronym PET). This is a bio-degradable, eco-friendly, recyclable alternative to glass with a significantly lower carbon footprint, Stellen Wines believes.
The global wine, beer and cider markets have seen a marked increase in the use of PET bottles in the last few years, with growing numbers of consumers choosing the greener, more affordable, sustainable option. Du Toit says both Magners and Strongbow, two highly prolific international cider brands have introduced PET packaging alternatives to meet consumer demand.
With 10ml more cider than regular South African cider bottles, the Tell's 340ml pack is still 34 per cent lighter than those of its competitors. The PET bottle, which has a six-month shelf-life, is also shatter-proof, making it ideal for occasions where glass restrictions apply, such as concerts, festivals and live events.
The 340 ml bottle with a twist-off cap will likely retail for between R163 and R173 a case of 24 bottles, working out at between R6,80 and R7,20 a single unit.
