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Lyndsay Sharp and her husband David own a number of Victoria’s leading beverage brands. Based in the Bellarine Peninsula, their business The Sharp Group produces Flying Brick Cider, one of Australia’s fastest growing craft ciders, as well as premium wine brands Leura Park Estate, Jack Rabbit Vineyard and Yes said the Seal.
The business grew out of the couple’s shared passion for food, wine and the country and naturally complemented each of their backgrounds, with Lyndsay coming from marketing and PR and David from farming and finance.
They purchased Leura Park Estate in 2007 with two part-time staff and at the time were making around 350 cases of wine. Today, more than 150 people are employed by The Sharp Group and over 20,000 cases of wine from 120 acres of vineyard and a large volume of Flying Brick Cider from orchards in the region are produced each year.
The business made its second move in 2010, when it purchased Kilgour Estate, one of the most scenic vineyards in the region, and rebranded and renovated the site to become Jack Rabbit Vineyard.
Behind the wines are talented winemakers Darren Burke and
“Each stable of wines boasts its unique fingerprint and style,” Lyndsay explained. “Leura Park Estate produces premium cool climate wines with a strong French influence, while Jack Rabbit Vineyard wines are contemporary and sophisticated – complex without being complicated, and Yes said the Seal wines are refined and elegant, edging towards boundary pushing.”
The three brands have collected multiple awards, and Leura Park Estate and Yes said the Seal have both been rated as Five Star wineries by James Halliday.
The Sharp Group also produces a range of bistro wines under the Nine Yards and Counting brand, which Lyndsay says “are great, drink now wines at an attractive price point for trade.”
In the same year that The Sharp Group purchased Jack Rabbit Vineyard, Flying Brick Cider launched as one of the first in the Bellarine to enter the fledging Australian cider market.
RRP: $8 per stubby, $20-25 per four-pack, $88 per 24-pack
The apples and pears used in the ciders come from suppliers across the state including Shepparton, Harcourt, Gippsland and High Country.
Lyndsay describes their ciders as, “Fresh, natural and lively, but most of all, honest…Our ciders really are their own marketing advocate.”
The range includes two apple ciders, Original and Draught, and Pear, which are all free from sugars, colourings, flavourings and concentrates.
Flying Brick Cider is now one of the fastest growing within its segment and Lyndsay and David have had to extend their sales team to help support trade across the country.
They now have representatives in Victoria, Queensland, South Australia and most recently, New South Wales.
“When we first launched in 2010, the Victorian market embraced the ciders with gusto. The number of retailers and venues continues to increase on a weekly basis – no doubt this sounds like classic spin, but seriously, once people taste Flying Brick Cider they are hooked – they can taste the purity.”
“In the whole scheme of things we are small, but we are also selective. It is important to us that the retailers and venues who take on Flying Brick Cider are as committed to quality and great palate experience as we are.”
“We are there to help our customers in any way, shape or form possible, and can also provide a broad range of merchandise – long-term relationships are what we are all about.”
All of the ciders are available in kegs and stubbies, which feature the brand’s iconic mascot and namesake, Flying Brick – the nickname also given to the local and legendary black cockatoo.
Trade can contact their nearest sales representative listed to the right to
For NSW sales, contact:
Sam Lockyer, NSW Account Manager
Email: samuel@thesharpgroup.com.au
Tel: 0477 701239
For national sales, contact:
Luke Holland, National Sales Manager
Email: luke@thesharpgroup.com.au
Tel: 0408 766 551
For QLD sales, contact:
David Bone, Cuttings Wine
Email: davidb@cuttingswine.com.au
Tel: 0410 700 330
Feature image: Lyndsay Sharp
