Accolade scoops up Rolf Binder wines

Accolade Wines has upped its stable of smaller premium Australian wine producers after inking a deal to acquire Rolf Binder Wines in the Barossa.

Winemaker Rolf Binder in the Barossa Valley.

Accolade Wines has upped its stable of smaller premium Australian wine producers after inking a deal to acquire Rolf Binder Wines in the Barossa Valley, with the acquisitive winemaker also interested in scooping up more local brands to swell its portfolio of wine brands.

Led by former Treasury Wine Estates executive Robert Foye, Accolade has also recently bought Katnook to add to its stable of premium wineries which includes Grant Burge, St Hallett, Petaluma, Banrock Station as well as brands such as Hardys, House of Arras and Jam Shed.

Accolade Wines is believed to have purchased Rolf Binder for around $20 million.

Mr Foye, the former boss of the Americas for Treasury Wine and then its chief operating officer before departing in 2019, told The Australian that Accolade was looking at more acquisitions in Australia.

“I think the bigger story is the Accolade team is very strong and capable, we are getting some incredible results and we are looking to do some consolidation in Australia and New Zealand.

“We are growing quite well internationally, across the globe.

“For us because we are focused on growing the business, not only in Australia but also the UK, Europe, Asia and the US in the future, an acquisition like that where we can get a good brand but also great vineyards and great wine for us works really well because we have a lot of brands that actually that have a lot of equity, incredible stories.”

Rolf Binder was established in 1955 by Rolf Heinrich Binder and his wife, Franziska, and is now run by his son Rolf Binder (Jnr) and daughter Christa Deans. The Binder family produces a range of highly acclaimed premium Barossa wines using fruit from their vineyards. The Rolf Binder portfolio includes five wines that have received 95 points or more from James Halliday and iconic wines such as Bulls Blood and Hanisch Shiraz.

It is the second acquisition under Mr Foye’s helm since he was appointed CEO in May 2020, following the purchase of Katnook Estate late last year.

“We are delighted to bring a business with such legacy and deep experience in the Barossa Valley as Rolf Binder into the Accolade Wines family,” Mr Foye said. “We are excited about the role the Rolf Binder brand will play in our diverse portfolio and the role the Rolf Binder premium red and white grapes will have in supporting Accolade’s other Barossa brands, including Grant Burge and St Hallett.”

The Rolf Binder premium winery, including more than 100 hectares of vineyard, was offered for sale by the family last year in a bid to lay the foundations for the business’s next stage of growth.

Mr Foye said Accolade Wines has experienced strong growth in the first half of fiscal 2021, despite external challenges such as COVID-19, and has ambitious targets for the rest of the year.

“We are focused on sustainably growing the future of our amazing brands, the wine industry around the world and the communities in which we work. We continue to support our core global brands and work with partners in each market to respond to the demand, increasing access of quality wine to wine lovers everywhere,” Mr Foye said.

Mr Foye also told The Australian he was confident the winemaker could continue to grow its export business into China despite that country in November imposing crushing 200-per cent tariffs on wine imported from Australia, with Accolade using its global sourcing of wines from South America, Europe and New Zealand to grow sales in China.

Originally published as Accolade scoops up Rolf Binder wines