Tokyo, January 20, 2011-Mercian Corporation (head office: Tokyo; President & CEO Hiroshi Ueki) will launch eight wines from St Hallett winery in South Australia nationwide on March 16. This includes two wines, “St Hallett Tatiara”, developed for Japanese market that will be transported as bulk wine in 24kl holding containers, and bottled in Japan. St Hallett winery is owned by Lion Nathan, the alcoholic beverage arm of Lion Nathan National Foods (head office: Sydney; CEO: Rob Murray), the holding company of the Kirin Group in Oceania.

Based in Sydney, Australia, Lion Nathan is a leader in the production, distribution and marketing of alcoholic beverages in Oceania. The company operates as an arm of Lion Nathan National Foods, a fully-owned subsidiary of Kirin Holdings established in October 2009. Lion Nathan owns seven wineries in Australia, New Zealand and the United States, and is engaged in wine production and sales in these regions.

The synergies created within the Kirin Group have enabled the launch of wines from Lion Nathan's five-star* St Hallett winery in Australia as well as joint development of “St Hallett Tatiara” wines that are bottled in Japan for the Japanese market.
  “St Hallett Tatiara” varieties will be bottled in Japan at Mercian's Fujisawa plant from bulk wine imported from Australia by container ship in specially designed low oxygen permeability bags with a capacity of 24kl, equivalent to 32K 750ml bottles.
  Domestic bottling improves quality consistency, in particular by reducing the delay between bottling and retail sale, while the use of lightweight Japanese bottles and packaging materials helps to reduce the environmental impact. Furthermore, CO2 emissions associated with shipping have been cut by around 60% per 750ml bottle, according to Mercian estimates.
  Mercian has direct input into the final blending process in Australia in order to ensure that the wines satisfy the demands of the Japanese market while at the same time reflecting the characteristics of Australian wines. The Tatiara varieties represent a unique collaboration among winemakers and are the product of synergies within the Kirin Group designed especially for Japanese consumers. The word Tatiara means “Beautiful Country” in the language of Aboriginal Australians, and indeed the Tatiara varieties boast a full flavor that conveys both the sincerity of the producer and the warmth of humanity and the natural environment.
  The six St Hallett varieties, meanwhile, are produced exclusively from grapes grown in the famed Barossa Valley wine-making region of South Australia. Offering a lively and fruity freshness, these varieties have recently earned praise from leading wine magazines.

Mercian is committed to providing a wide range of quality wines to suit every palette and every occasion in line with our philosophy of “creating good times with good wines.”

▼ St Hallett Tatiara (two varieties)	▼ St Hallett (six varieties)
* Source: James Halliday Australian wine companion edition 2011