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by James Bailey
Published: November 10, 2023
Today (November 10), Wakefield Wines, a family-owned winery in South Australia, and Freixenet Copestick announced a strategic distribution partnership covering the UK and Republic of Ireland.
Established in 1969 and located in the Clare Valley, South Australia, Wakefield Wines is a founding member of Australia's First Families of Wine (AFFW), a group of Australia's oldest and most respected multi-generational family-owned wineries.
The property is also registered as a five-star winery in James Halliday's Australian Wine Guide 2023.
As a leading UK and Ireland wine company with multi-channel capabilities, Freixenet Copestick is well placed to enhance and expand Wakefield Wine’s well-established distribution across all channels.
Commenting on the agreement, Robin Copestake, Managing Director of Freixenet Copestake, said: “We are delighted to enter into this distribution partnership with Wakefield Wines. We were immediately impressed by their vision for the future, excellent environmental initiatives and exceptionally high quality wines. We feel there is a strong synergy between the two companies and look forward to adding to their already impressive UK distribution with our multi-channel expertise.”
“The UK and Republic of Ireland have been important markets for us since the mid-1980s and partnering with Freixenet Copstick, a name synonymous with quality and innovation, aligns well with our family’s values and vision,” added Mitchell Taylor, Managing Director of Wakefield Wines. “We are confident that this collaboration will significantly enhance our presence in the UK and Republic of Ireland and provide even more wine consumers with a range of exceptional wines that celebrate our Australian heritage.”
Current distribution partner Louis Latour will work with Freixenet Copestick and Wakefield Wines to transform the business over the coming months. From early January 2024, Freixenet Copestick will take full responsibility for distribution.
The deal is the latest in a series of acquisitions made by Freixenet Copestick in recent years, which now offers expertise in the luxury trade through Jascots and DTC through Slurp. The recent acquisition of West Sussex-based Bolney Wine Estate adds premium English soft drinks to its portfolio, as well as a hospitality and visitor destination.
