Bollinger, Henschke and Villa Maria Join Forces

A new joint venture between Société Jacques Bollinger, Henschke and Villa Maria has been announced, forming House of Fine Wine, an Australian distribution company that will offer nationwide supply of premium wines.

The new company was established after the sale of Fine Wine Partners to Accolade Wines and will officially launch on 1 June 2017.

House of Fine Wine will build upon the local distribution model set up by Villa Maria in Australia earlier this year with a dedicated sales and marketing team, customer services, supply chain and operational support.

In addition, Villa Maria’s Australian General Manager, David Bird, will become General Manager of House of Fine Wine.

Bird said, “This new distribution business is truly unique in bringing together three of the finest family producers from across the world. We’ll provide a tightly focused premium portfolio and highly engaged sales and support team who have a deep understanding of each family winery and their remarkable wines.”

The three family-owned wineries will bring together their combined 393 years of winemaking experience and commitment to sustainability and quality for a producer and customer-focused model that will offer the Australian market premium wines from three of the world’s most accomplished and admired wine brands.

The three wineries share multi-generational, family-owned values and a long-term vision for the future, contributing complementary strengths for a rich portfolio of fine wines. 

Villa Maria, New Zealand’s most awarded winery, offers a vast array of wines from regions around New Zealand, with a strong emphasis on sauvignon blanc, pinot noir and chardonnay.

Founded in 1829, Société Jacques Bollinger is comprised of two prestigious Champagne houses (Bollinger and Ayala), one of the oldest Burgundy domaines (Chanson Père & Fils), the house of Langlois Chateau in the Loire Valley and Delamain, one of the most reputable houses of Cognac.

Henschke, one of the most historic and renowned names in Australian wine brings six generations of premium winemaking with a distinguished pedigree in complex and age-worthy white and red wines.

Etienne Bizot, President and Chairman of Société Jacques Bollinger, said, “Represented in the Australian marketplace now for over 100 years, our houses Champagne Bollinger, Champagne Ayala and Cognac Delamain are delighted to continue their close working relationship of a quarter of a century with the Henschke family and more recently Villa Maria’s Fistonich family in the House of Fine Wine.”