On August 12, the Seattle-based company Ackley Brands announced in a press release its acquisition of Charles Smith Wines from The Wine Group. The brand family, named after its founder Charles Smith, a former rock band manager, includes popular Washington State brands such as Kung Fu Girl, Eve, The Velvet Devil, Band of Roses, Boom Boom!, and Chateau Smith.
According to the "Northwest Wine Report," Kung Fu Girl is the second best-selling Riesling in the Super-Premium category nationwide, with 80,000 cases sold annually through direct sales. Boom Boom! ranks third among Syrahs, with over 720,000 bottles sold annually, while The Velvet Devil is the fifth best-selling Merlot nationwide in direct sales. The platform quotes Brandon Ackley, founder and CEO of Ackley Brands, saying, "We appreciate that this brand has resonated nationwide for quite some time, and that each creatively named brand focuses on a primary grape variety presented in an appealing way." The acquisition includes the brands and inventory, but not real estate, physical assets, or personnel.
Ackley on expansion course
With this latest acquisition, Ackley Brands has taken over no fewer than five wineries in 2024, including Columbia Winery and Hogue Cellars from Gallo, effectively quadrupling its size over the past 12 months, according to the company. As a result, Ackley Brands has become one of the largest players in Oregon and Washington State in the Pacific Northwest of the U.S. The wines from the acquired brands will now be produced at Ackley Brands' winery in Prosser, Washington, under the leadership of Will Wiles. Wiles, who previously worked at Ste. Michelle Wine Estates as the head winemaker for Columbia Crest, was recently appointed Director of Winemaking at Ackley Brands.
Charles Smith, who transitioned from the music industry to wine in 1999 with K Vintners, founded Charles Smith Wines in 2006. Constellation Brands acquired Charles Smith Wines in 2016 for $120m before selling the brands to California-based The Wine Group in 2022. According to "Wine Business," The Wine Group is the second-largest wine producer in the U.S., behind Gallo, with over 50 million cases sold annually. The brands have now moved to a company that prides itself on its roots. In his press release, Brandon Ackley stated, " With this acquisition, we’re staying true to our vision for Oregon and Washington wines and reinforcing our belief in the region, “These wines resonate with consumers all around the country, and speak to the bright future ahead for Pacific Northwest wine.” SP
