Caribbean Wines & Spirits celebrates six-month anniversary

Caribbean Wines & Spirits celebrates six-month anniversary
The Caribbean Wines & Spirits (CWS) May “Tour de Vino” box. (PHOTO: CWS)

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Caribbean Wines & Spirits (CWS) officially launched on Dec 1, 2020 and the company has hit the ground running with a diverse offering of wine, spirit and beer options from around the world. In addition to offering the House of Angostura line of premium rums from Trinidad and Tobago, Landshark Beer and the “Tour de Vino” wine subscription box, CWS has been popping up at socially distanced events around New Providence and plans to continue growing and expanding to soon be able to serve the entire Bahamas.

CWS social media contest winner Randia Coakley.

“In just six short months, we have not slowed down!” noted Christopher Duncombe, CWS Wine & Spirits Manager. “We have curated an impressive wine and spirits portfolio that includes options from nearly every continent and major wine region. And in the past six months, we have gotten the chance to develop a sense of community via our monthly ‘Tour de Vino’ digital wine tastings, event sponsorships and socially distanced event activations. You can also find the House of Angostura, Landshark Beer and many of our wines in over 30 stores around New Providence, as well as on a number of restaurant menus.”

CWS social media contest winner Candice Hawkins.

Duncombe, who worked in the Food & Beverage and Hospitality Industry for a number of years prior to joining Caribbean Wines & Spirits, brought a wealth of knowledge and expertise to his new role, but launching during the COVID-19 pandemic meant that CWS had to quickly adapt and evolve to meet the needs of local wine and spirit enthusiasts.

Karla Wells-Lisgaris, brand manager for Caribbean Wines & Spirits and its parent company, the Caribbean Bottling Company (Bahamas) Ltd, noted: “CWS is something new and exciting for us. We have always been committed to keeping up with the taste preferences of Bahamians, and we wanted to provide wine and rum aficionados around the country with new additions that they may not have experienced before.

“And, like all businesses, we have had to look for unique ways to engage with our customers and meet their needs in the wake of COVID-19. In the near future, we hope to take part in cultural and social events like regattas and Junkanoo, but until that time, we have been able to engage with wine and spirits lovers digitally, in smaller, intimate gatherings and fun contests via our social media pages.”

Caribbean Wines & Spirits (CWS) team members at their first sampling event at Four Walls in January 2021. (PHOTO: CWS)

One of Caribbean Wines & Spirits’ most popular digital events has been its wine tastings, which allows their “Tour de Vino” subscribers to learn more about their monthly wines while engaging with other wine lovers from the comfort of their own homes.

“We launched the ‘Tour de Vino’ wine subscription box in December of last year, with a Cabernet Sauvignon from the Sequoia Grove Winery in Napa Valley, a Signature Brut from the estate of Bouvet Ladubay in Loire Valley, France, and a bottle of Angostura Single Barrel Reserve from the House of Angostura in Trinidad and Tobago. All three proved to be a hit, and each month we have developed a dedicated group of wine lovers who meet to appreciate wine and have a bit of comradery. And sometimes we are joined by special guests like Global House of Angostura Brand Ambassador Marv Cunningham, who happens to be right from The Bahamas,” added Duncombe.

The complete Caribbean Wines & Spirits portfolio can be purchased at the Caribbean Bottling Company’s head office on Sir Milo Butler Highway. For more information on Caribbean Wines & Spirits, visit www.cwsbahamas.com.