Vok Beverages Celebrates 10 years with purchase of new cellar door

December 6th 2012

Vok Beverages today announced the appointment of a new senior wine maker and the acquisition of premium vineyards and a function centre, all on the back of celebrating their 10th anniversary.
Vok is pleased to announce the acquisition of a state of the art function centre and premium vineyards in the picturesque region of McLaren Vale. The property will be renamed “Beresford Estate” paying homage to the company’s successful premium wine brand Beresford, which produces wines using grapes predominately from the McLaren Vale region.
Marketing Manager Chris Illman said the company has big plans for the new site.
“The acquisition also includes a newly built homestead. Built to the highest standards this three level architectural masterpiece is situated within the vineyards and will, in the future, be used in some capacity to build our wine brands” Mr Illman said.
The acquisition of the McLaren Vale vineyards comes in conjunction with the appointment of Chris Dix, renowned South Australian winemaker. Chris joins the company after a successful stint at Jim Barry wines. His portfolio includes working with; Fox Creek, d’Arenberg, Southcorp and Katnook Estate. Among Dix’s accolades he has been asked to judge a number of wine shows.
“After 20 years of winemaking in some of SA’s most acclaimed regions including Coonawarra, Riverland, McLaren Vale & Clare it is a great opportunity for me to join Vok Beverages at the Step Road winery in Langhorne Creek. I look forward to making wines in a diverse range of styles and price points, and will have a particular focus working with our Beresford Estates McLaren Vale vineyard. I will also have the privilege of influencing production of some of Australia’s most trusted liquor brands – Queen Adelaide, Andrew Garrett, Galway Pipe, Black Bottle brandy and have the challenge of learning more about cider, fortified and spirit production. It is exciting times for the winery team and it is fantastic to be involved!” Mr Dix said.
From humble beginnings Vok was founded in 2002 by Managing Director Angelo Kotses who acquired the VOK Liqueurs brand and trade mark from Diageo and began marketing and distributing the well known brand. With an established factory, Vok then began manufacturing for Diageo and so a partnership formed. Vok invested in a joint venture with Diageo where by Vok began to distribute and market their ‘tail’ brands and quickly developed a reputation for breathing life back into neglected brands. The company went from strength to strength stepping into an innovation phase with the launch of Three Oaks Cider and Infused Rush. Late last year it was announced that after eight years together Vok and Diageo were to part ways, with Vok now entering into a full swing of innovation and NPD. On February 2012 the company launched Bearded Lady Bourbon and Rebellion Bay Spiced Rum; this was followed with the launch of the brand Kilt Scotch in June this year.