Accolade Wines

Accolade Wines came into being in 2011 when a private equity group acquired the business from Constellation Wines of the US. The principal Australian brands owned by Accolade are Amberley, Banrock Station, Bay of Fires/House of Arras, Brookland Valley, Goundrey, Hardys, Houghton, Leasingham, Moondah Brook, Reynella, Tintara and Yarra Burn. In '17/'18 an on-again, off-again, proposed IPO was in the off position, and it had indeed added to its collection of brands by purchasing Knappstein, Petaluma, St Hallett, Stonier and Tatachilla from Lion. Included in the purchase was premium wine distributor Fine Wine Partners which had a large portfolio of top brands including those purchased. FWP was then closed down. In June '18 global asset manager The Carlyle Group purchased Accolade Wines for $1 billion, ending a saga that began in '11. Exports to all major markets. -JAMES HALLIDAY