Accolade Wines buys Chile’s Viña Anakena

Accolade Wines has announced its acquisition of Chilean wine producer Viña Anakena, extending its footprint further into the New World.

Viña Anakena vineyards. Credit: Wines of Chile

Viña Anakena was founded in the late 1990s by two friends, Felipe Ibáñez and Jorge Gutiérrez, in Alto Cachapoal, in the cool foothills of the Andes Mountains, south of the Chilean capital Santiago. The producer currently exports to 50 markets, including the United States.

The acquisition includes all of the brands and inventory relating to Anakena, a 3,000 tonne winery, a vineyard near the winery, Cellar Door and VIP tasting room.

“We see our involvement as a significant opportunity for Anakena and our team”, said Ricardo Letelier, managing director of Viña Anakena.

“Anakena’s founders, Felipe Ibáñez and Jorge Gutiérrez, are glad to see the brand and assets they founded enter a new growth phase with Accolade at the helm.”

“As we pass the business onto Accolade we look forward to seeing the great wines of Anakena available to more consumers in more countries”, added Felipe Ibáñez and Jorge Gutiérrez. “Bringing Accolade to Chile will be positive for both Anakena and the Chilean wine industry in general.”

In 2013 Accolade acquired New Zealand’s Mud House and Waipara labels, followed by Barossa producer Grant Burge in 2014. This most recent acquisition comes less than a week after the company confirmed it had sold its shares in the UK’s largest independent drinks distributor Matthew Clark for £100 million to Conviviality Retail.

“Our customer knowledge and sophisticated distribution systems will build on Anakena’s foundations, as we did with New Zealand’s Mud House, quickly building it into million case brand in the UK,” said Nick Greiner, Accolade Wines’ chairman.

Accolade Wines’ will retain the producer’s current leadership team, headed by Ricardo Letelier, who will report to Accolade’s MJ Loza, head of Accolade Wines’ American business. Other senior management including Anakena’s winemaker Gavin Taylor will also stay with Anakena.

Accolade Wines Portfolio includes Australian brands, Hardys, Grant Burge Wines and Banrock, South Africa’s Flagstone, Fish Hoek and Kumala, California’s Geyser Peak, Atlas Peak and Echo Falls and New Zealand’s Mud House and Waipara Hills.

Financial details of the transaction were not disclosed.