Invivo Wines

Invivo Wines

Trading name	Invivo Wines
Type	Private
Industry	Wine
Founded	Auckland, New Zealand 2008 (2008)
Founders	Tim Lightbourne Rob Cameron
Products	Wine
Website	www.invivowines.com

Invivo Wines is a winery based in New Zealand. In 2018, Invivo was the largest equity crowdfunded company in the Southern Hemisphere, raising NZD$4.4m with 687 shareholders in two rounds of crowdfunding.^[1] The company has two brands: the Invivo brand produces New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir and has a prestige 'Michelle's' range. The Graham Norton's Own brand produces New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc and Rosé along with a South Australian Shiraz and Graham Norton's Own Prosecco DOC from Italy.^[2]

It began in 2007 as an idea between two old school friends, Rob Cameron (winemaker) and Tim Lightbourne.^[3] Invivo has received numerous gold medals and trophies including Decanter World Wine Awards, International Wine and Spirit Competition & Hong Kong International Wine and Spirit Competition. Invivo has also been a trophy finalist for New Zealand Wine Producer of the Year at the prestigious International Wine & Spirit Competition in London in both 2009 and 2010. In 2011, Invivo won the International Sauvignon Blanc trophy at the Hong Kong International Wine and Spirit Competition and the Champion Wine of the Show at the inaugural Marlborough Wine Show. In 2013, Invivo was awarded gold for both Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir at the Sommelier Wine Awards held in London.^[4]

Winner of the 2009 New Zealand Innovation in Wine Marketing Trophy, 2011 TNT Emerging New Zealand Exporter of the Year, Deloitte's Fast 50 New Zealand Companies 2012 (number 24).^[5]

Invivo has been a supplier of wine to the BBC's The Graham Norton Show, after they discovered Norton was a fan of their Sauvignon Blanc.^[6] In 2014 it collaborated with Graham Norton to produce a special edition Sauvignon Blanc to be auctioned for the Elton John Aids Foundation.^[7] Invivo subsequently produced a 2015 Graham Norton Sauvignon Blanc.^[8][9] and in the years since has worked closely with Graham Norton to extend the range, which is sold in New Zealand, Australia, the UK and Ireland. Norton is also a 0.8% shareholder of Invivo Wines.^[10]

New Zealand fashion label Zambesi designed the Invivo label in 2008.^[11]

Invivo's current wines are from Marlborough and Central Otago.^[12] In 2010, Invivo launched New Zealand's first lower calorie wine belle by Invivo, a low calorie & lower alcohol Sauvignon Blanc. Also the first New Zealand wine to include a nutritional panel on the label.^[13][14] In 2012, Invivo added to this range with a lower calorie 9% alcohol rosé, also a New Zealand first.^[15] In 2014, Invivo launched the Scarlett's Spritzer range, a sparkling natural fruit infused drink with the following flavours: Elderflower & Lime, Red Berries, Wild Strawberry, Orange & Mango and Passionfruit.^[16][17]

In March 2015, Invivo became the first New Zealand company to raise NZD$2 million via equity crowdfunding, the maximum amount allowed under New Zealand regulations. Invivo raised this using equity crowdfunding platform Snowball Effect.^[18][19][20]

In February 2016, Invivo announced their securing of the historic 114-year-old winery at Te Kauwhata, south of Auckland.^[21]

References