Noblewood Group

Headquartered in Montenegro, Noblewood Group is a premium maker and distributor of premium and super-premium spirits, including the world-renowned Beluga vodka. The company offers spirits in over 100 countries worldwide. Managing Director Andreas Ioannides discussed the company’s new product releases and global reach, in conversation with Imogen Ward and Antonia Cole.

Noblewood Group is launching a new range of lower ABV vodkas. Having both on- and off-trade appeal, this launch will greatly increase the possible markets that the Beluga brand can reach.

“Lower ABV vodka is a brilliant innovation for us,” said Managing Director Andreas Ioannides. “We are keen for consumers to try the line as it reaches more markets. So far, the Beluga brand has only been focused on 40% ABV premium vodka, so this line is very exciting as we are trying something completely new.”

Modern and organic

Founded in 2022, Noblewood Group is a privately-owned company, with a distillery in Jaunkalsnava, Latvia, and a blending and bottling facility in Nikšić, Montenegro. The company offers a field-to-table product. Noblewood Group manages its products’ entire journey from the sourcing of raw materials and distillation to reaching the end-consumer.

The distillery uses organic Baltic grain supplied by certified bio-farms and grown without pesticides, artificial fertilisers, food additives or ionising radiation. Pure, clean water is supplied from 120m deep artisan

wells located below the pine forests that surround the distillery. Six rectifying columns with copper filters are then used to ensure that clear, high-proof Alpha grade ethanol with a purity level of 96.3% is produced for the company’s spirits.

Noblewood Group also utilises modern technology in the distillation process with gas chromatography, charcoal filtering columns and quartz sand filtration. Integrating technological innovations into the distillation process allows Noblewood Group to make the highest-quality spirits that modern technology can achieve.

Its Montenegro production site has the capability to make 750,000 9L cases of vodka and 550,000 9L cases of gin per year. This is as well as producing 14,000 bottles per working day shift, with an automated bottling line accompanied with handcrafted decorations.

DVARP

As an architecture design and build office at DVARP, we prioritise clients’ needs and economic strategies. Our platform integrates consultancy and construction to provide comprehensive guidance. Collaborating with Noblewood Group on various projects in Montenegro has been a pleasure. Notably, we transformed a maritime museum in Porto Montenegro Marina into a contemporary office space for the group. We eagerly anticipate devising new, innovative solutions tailored to Noblewood Group’s vision and requirements.

NOBLEWOOD GROUP I PROFILE

The company has operational offices in Montenegro, Latvia, the United States, the United Arab Emirates and Cyprus, employing more than 300 people across the globe.

Beluga Celebration, Beluga Transatlantic Racing, Beluga Allure and Beluga Gold Line.

Noblewood Group’s Beluga brand vodka has sold over 2.6 million bottles across more than 40 countries in top retailers such as Kaufland, Metro, Auchan and Edeka. The indisputable quality of Noblewood Group’s spirits has resulted in the company’s global success.

Fresh flavours

The company has a range of spirit expressions and premium vodkas based on different cultural influences. The Beluga vodka brand consists of Beluga Noble,

From Beluga Noble being best consumed with caviar, Beluga Celebration having been created to commemorate special moments, Beluga Transatlantic paying homage to the Adriatic, to Beluga Allure being inspired by the sport of polo and Beluga Gold Line having a special opening ritual and featuring a designated hammer to crack it open, each of these bottles has unique theming to deliver an immersive and luxury experience.

Noblewood Group has also collaborated with the iconic French crystal house Lalique, creating the limited-edition super premium vodka expressions, Beluga Epicure and Epicure Noir by Lalique, making it the first and only vodka brand to do so. Both brands share the same standards of high quality and refinement in their products, making this partnership a premium culmination of both brands’ mastery of their respective industries.

The company is also launching a new range of infused spirits in the coming months, the Beluga Adriatic Botanicals. This is a collection of lower ABV spirits, infused with natural fruits and herbs, with no added sugar.

The premium Beluga vodka coupled with different natural flavours and lower ABV creates the opportunity for Beluga products to fulfil a wider range of ever evolving consumer needs. This new collection can be enjoyed on its own or as part of a cocktail.

The collection offers a fresh experience in the form of three unique flavours: cucumber

and mint, rose and lime, pear and linden. The cucumber and mint flavour aims to provide a crisp and refreshing experience. The rose and lime flavour is light and aromatic. Lastly, pear and linden creates a juicy, but delicate flavour profile.

“I’m excited to see where this launch will take us,” said Mr Ioannides. “So far, we’ve had incredible feedback from the market, and we are looking forward to hearing from our consumers. We hope that everyone will embrace this new innovative line and enjoy the flavours we have to offer.”

Ethical production

Noblewood Group integrates sustainability into the heart of operations. The company uses hardwood chips from local farms for

pot heating, reducing transportation emissions and carbon production.

The facility is ESG compliant, with 750MW of energy being redistributed into Latvian State Energy every month. To reduce waste, Noblewood Group gives excess nitrogenous fertilisers to local farmers, enhancing the soil health of the region.

“Sustainability doesn’t stop at production for us,” explained Mr Ioannides. “It is about how we behave as a group; it is at the heart of our core values as a company. We chose to base ourselves in Montenegro because it’s a UNESCO protected territory and one of the first countries in the world to declare itself an ecological state. The location aligns with our own values of environmental protection and sustainability.”

International connection

Noblewood Group has a global structure that allows it to connect with people from various countries and cultures around the world. With local representatives and dedicated ambassadors in the United States, Israel, Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Australia, the United Arab Emirates and more, the company has access to many core markets.

These representatives and ambassadors make sure that the company’s guidelines are being met, brand and product knowledge is delivered to the market and that brand activities are being implemented.

“We are hoping to continue expanding across the world into Europe, South America and Asia,” said Mr Ioannides. “We are

growing our global footprint and are continuing to invest in brand development and innovation. Our new botanicals range will widen our market as well as our upcoming premium rum and gin brands.”

Noblewood Group works closely with distributors and partners to understand market needs and customise marketing strategies towards individual countries. The company has a goal to operate globally, but to build relationships locally, delivering a personalised experience to different cultures.

“My job allows me to learn about and embrace different countries,” concluded Mr Ioannides. “I love meeting new people from all over the world and hearing their stories. We get to see our products evolve in each step of development to become the high-quality, premium spirits on our shelves. It is amazing to see so many people come together to form our global strategy and work towards our long-term vision for the brand.”