Mudgee winemaker David Lowe has responded unconventionally to the hacking of Lowe Wines’ Facebook page by dedicating a limited-edition sparkling rosé to his hacker. Formally known as ‘Lowe Jodie Wilbertree Sparkling Rosé’, Jodie, Hacked by Christene is a playful nod to the hacker to encourage the Lowe community to join its newly launched Facebook page.
In June 2024, the Lowe Wines Facebook account was hacked, resulting in the family winery losing access to a decade of memories, content, and its loyal fan base of 5,800 followers. Despite months of effort to take back control, the page was overtaken by the mysterious ‘Christene,’ who transformed it into something entirely her own, leaving her mischievous mark on the previously family-friendly page.
“When our Facebook account was hacked, we were gutted and tried everything to get it back,” commented Winemaker David Lowe. “But then the page became ‘Christene’. Christene quickly started rebranding our feed with an all-to-familiar confidence, an unapologetic sense of self and a promiscuous disposition.”
Rather than wallow in the loss, David and the team decided to clap back by rebranding one of their most iconic and popular wine releases. The result? A tongue-in-cheek tribute in the form of a sparkling rosé.
“We’ve finally moved on from our old page and started a new one, but Christene has made a big impression on us and our community – so we giving her the recognition that she deserves with her very own ultra-limited release: Jodie, Hacked by Christene.”
Lowe Jodie Wilbertree Rosé is one of Lowe’s best-selling wines, named after Winemaker David’s ‘stage name’ (Jodie being David’s first pet, and Wilbertree being the first street that he lived on).
Much like the Facebook page, Jodie Wilbertree Rosé has undergone a mischievous makeover. While the wine inside remains the same best-loved sparkling rosé, the bottle now sports a playful new label that nods to Christene’s bold takeover.
“If you can’t beat ‘em, join them!” comments David Lowe. “And remember to change your password often.”
The limited run of ‘Jodie, hacked by Christene’ will be available from today while stocks last from Lowe Wines Online Cellar Door. Lowe Wines will also be running a giveaway on its new Facebook page.
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For more information about Lowe Wines, please visit:
www.lowefamilywineco.com.au
@lowefamilywineco
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