Fine Wine Partners had previously distributed the brands, but that agreement changed when Accolade Wines bought the Australian wine business, owned by Lion, late last year.
Founded in 1984, Pikes is a wholly family-owned company producing wines out of the Clare Valley in South Australia.
On representing Pikes, OWFM Chairman Andrew Oatley said, “Continuing our strategy of representing like-minded family wine brands, we are delighted to have the Pikes join our portfolio.
“We’ve sought out a key producer in each of Australia’s key regions and Pikes is without doubt one of the jewels in the Clare Valley crown – a James Halliday red five star winery that has enjoyed widespread recognition and accolades.
“Producing benchmark table wines from their outstanding Polish Hill River vineyards, Pikes will be a terrific addition to our portfolio, complimenting leading wineries from Australian producers now ranging from Margaret River and Great Southern in WA, through SA’s Barossa, Langhorne Creek and McLaren Vale, across to Yarra Valley, Mornington Peninsula, Pyrenees and Heathcote in Victoria, Tasmania, and Orange & Mudgee in our home state.”
Pikes' Director and Chief Winemaker Neil Pike added, “We are excited to be joining the Oatley Fine Wine Merchants portfolio. As a family run winery we like the synergy of being represented by a family run distributor with serious wine credentials such as OFWM. We are very confident that their 50-strong sales team will continue to build on the solid customer base that we have built over the past 32 years, particularly in the on-trade sector. We look forward to building strong relationships with all at OFWM and working closely with them.”
Located at Relbia in Northern Tasmania and established in 2004, Josef Chromy Wines has quickly become known as one of the finest producers of Tasmanian Méthode Traditionelle, delicate white wines and elegant Pinot Noir.
“We are delighted to include this premium northern-Tasmanian family-owned wine company to our portfolio,” said Oatley.
“Renowned for its riesling, sparkling and pinot noir, Tasmania is definitely the epi-centre of ‘cool’ right now – both cool in climate and on-trend for wine lovers. Josef Chromy is without doubt one of the state’s best and sits well alongside our other Tasmanian offerings from Clover Hill and Derwent Estate.”
Josef Chromy’s Chief Winemaker and General Manager Jeremy Dineen added, “We are excited to be joining one of the most dynamic and rapidly growing distribution businesses in the country, and particularly pleased that it is a family owned business with a genuine focus on wine. We believe Oatley Fine Wine Merchants are a perfect fit for us because of their expertise, national footprint and dedication to providing high quality, family owned brands to the on-premise market.”
Both Josef Chromy and Pikes will be distributed by OFWM in Australia both direct and through broad range wholesalers from 1 May 2017.
Image: Josef Chromy
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