Accolade Wines has completed its acquisition of Coonawarra-based Katnook Estate, naming Natalie Cleghorn as its senior winemaker and manager.
Katnook Estate, based in the South Australia wine region of Coonawarra, is Accolade Wines’ first acquisition under the new leadership team and Carlyle group ownership.
Cleghorn has been developing award-winning wines from the region for more than 10 years and will become the fourth female senior winemaker in the Accolade Wines team, starting in January 2021.
“I am thrilled to be joining Katnook Estate and the broader Accolade Wines team. I have a great passion for the wines of Coonawarra and the region as a whole,” said Cleghorn.
“I am looking forward to being able to fully immerse myself focussing on the region, wines and winery and I am excited by the prospect of working with the experienced team to guide this historic brand into the future.”
Accolade Wines CEO Robert Foye said he was delighted to have Katnook Estate and Cleghorn part of the Accolade Wines portfolio.
“Katnook is renowned for producing rich and balanced red and white varietals that are sought after by the rest of the world and we are delighted to be able to help expand the potential of such an esteemed vineyard and region,” he said.
“We’re looking forward to seeing great things from the Katnook Estate winery under the guidance of such a distinguished winemaker as Natalie Cleghorn. We are happy to have Natalie on board and believe she will bring even more experience to the winery at Katnook.”
Katnook has twice won Australia’s most prestigious trophy, the Jimmy Watson, as well as a number of international awards for its wines.
