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Ulf Fuhrer holding a bottle of Zumwohl - Source: ONE News -
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A New Zealand-made schnapps has exploded onto the world market by winning a gold and silver medal at the World Spirits competition in San Francisco.
Aotearoa Distillery makes the drink and its German-born Kiwi founder Ulf Huhrer told TVNZ today a trip home played a part in the decision to make schnapps here.
"Generally most family occasions ended up with having a few schnapps at the end of the evening and I got a bit of a taste for it.
"The challenge became trying to buy a proper German schnapps in New Zealand. Every now and again I came across the odd bottle but certainly was not able to find anything of any kind of consistency," he said.
Fuhrer started bringing in a few bottles and then began discussions about producing his own. He met Tony Green, a New Zealand spirit industry veteran who helped develop 42 Below, and eventually launched Zumwohl 18 months ago.
Fuhrer did not have a distillery background but his boutique Wellington operation is now enjoying rapid growth and international recognition.
"I was hoping for a mention of the product at the world competition. Coming away with a gold and silver was certainly something and it will open some doors for us," he told AMP Business today.
The drink, pronounced Zoom-Vol and meaning "good health" in German, is not marketed as a schnapps as Fuhrer says most Kiwis associate that with the American style sweet and syrupy peach schnapps.
Instead it is pitched as a spirit for shots or cocktails that is available in natural, plum and feijoa flavours.
The company is now in discussions with an Australian distributor for New South Wales area and is also looking at venture capital options.
Zumwohl is distilled and bottled at Aotearoa Distillers Upper Hutt premises and is available nationwide.
