Accolade launches fine wine arm in UK

Accolade Wines has announced it is launching Fine Wine Partners in the UK and Ireland in order to “champion” the top end range of wines in its portfolio including Petaluma and Stonier.

The new arm will be led by Toby Spiers, previously of Treasury Wines, he commented: “We have redefined our approach to the sales and marketing of our premium wines for the UK market to be aimed at specialist, prestige and independent accounts in the on- and off-trade.

“Our portfolio is a flagship for fine wines from the New World in terms of quality and breadth with some of the rarest and most collectible benchmark wines for their given styles, especially looking at our Australian category.”

Fine Wine Partners was acquired by Accolade Wines from Lion Nathan in 2017, in a move which saw the likes of Petaluma, Stonier, St Hallett, Croser and Tatachilla move into the Accolade portfolio alongside Houghton, Grant Burge, House of Arras and Hardys’ own ‘Elieen Hardy’ range.

The range represented by Fine Wine Partners will cover wines costing £15 to £50 a bottle (retail prices) with “a clear pricing and channel segmentation strategy.”

The arm will also be responsible for the development and growth of the 1853 Wine Club (an e-commerce site) and Weybridge-based shop.

Ade McKeon, general manager UK and Ireland for Accolade Wines, commented: “Accolade Wines has always had a strong culture of fine wines and winery ownership which complement our leading portfolio of branded wines. The acquisition of Lion Nathan’s Fine Wine division a year ago has reinforced and strengthened our offer and we are committed to its growth for the long term.”