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 With wineries already available from their stables in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Italy and North America and South America, and with new offerings from Hardys and recently acquired brands Mud House and Grant Burge the company claims presence in all the New World wine regions. Anakena is available in 50 countries, including India where Hi Spirits has been their importer since 2007.
Ann Marie Battista, the Senior Consultant looking at the Indian market among others , informed Subhash Arora, President of the Delhi Wine Club last night during Dinner at Lavaash where 4 wines from Kumala and 2 wines from Mud House were tasted, that they had acquired this Chilean winery earlier this month.
"With the knowledge and distribution channels that Accolade has in the travel retail wine category we are confident that we can mimic, if not better, the success we have seen with previously acquired brands Geyser Peak, Mud House and Grant Burge Wines,’ says an official statement from the company. The deal was valued at $30-34 million though the company has refused to divulge the financial details of the purchase, adding ‘We wanted to have our complete portfolio from these countries of the New World and with this purchase we have wines from all the wine producing nations.’
Viña Anakena was founded in the late 1990s by two close friends Felipe Ibáñez and Jorge Gutiérrez, in Alto Cachapoal, near the cool foothills of Andes Mountains, south of the Chilean capital Santiago. They set out to craft elegant, innovative and distinctly New World wines that reflected their origin and Chile's potential as a producer of good quality, world-class wines.
Viña Anakena Managing Director Ricardo Letelier is obviously pleased with the change of hands. “Accolade has demonstrated through its acquisitions of Geyser Peak in 2012, Mud House in 2014, and Grant Burge Wines early this year that it not only preserves the unique identity and heritage of its brands but can bring its global expertise to bear to grow brands that it brings into the company,” he says.
Accolade in India
Accolade Wines already has the presence of Hardys wines in India through Sula. There was a pre-launch wine dinner yesterday with the Delhi Wine Club with two Mud House Kiwi wines and the 4 Kumala South African wines from their Portfolio, in which Ann- Marie Battista, the visiting Sales Consultant for Accolade Wines was a special guest. They will be formally launched in a month’s time and are expected to be retailed in November.
Imported by Hi Spirits, Anakena has been present in India for several years, since 2007. It has been a favourite wine of the Chilean embassy at formal functions and has been served at Delhi Wine Club Dinners also . A favourite with the Chilean Ambassadors in the past, it has been served at most National Days since its arrival.
 When I called Sanjeev Gupta, Director of Hi Spirits who introduced and has been importing Anakena wines for years, said that a container-load shipment of varietals like Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc , Chardonnay and a few premium labels like TAMA Single Vineyard Carmanere and ONA-Special Reserve Pinot Noir for restaurants and hotels is on its way and coincidentally was due to reach Delhi tonight.
He was not aware of the sales of Anakena to Accolades but he hoped it would result in better synergy and support with the new owners of the winery. He has been a regular participant showcasing Anakena, at the annual Chile Wine Festivals organised by ProChile for several years. It has been served as the official wine for several other events and has established itself as an excellent value-for-money wine option.
The acquisition includes all the brands and inventory relating to Anakena labels, a 3000 tonne winery, a private vineyard near the winery, Cellar Door and VIP tasting room. Accolade has reportedly also entered into long-term arrangements for the supply of grapes from other vineyards owned by Vina Anakena which weren't included in the sale.
According to reports, Accolade Wines will retain the current leadership team as well the team of 80 employees , headed by Ricardo Letelier. Other senior management including Anakena’s winemaker Gavin Taylor will stay with Anakena too. According to Decanter, the deal follows another announcement by Accolade Wines last week that they are selling their 50 per cent shareholding in UK drinks distributor Matthew Clark for £100million.
Accolade is owned s 80 per cent owned by CHAMP Private Equity.
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