On Two Hands Wines's official history page, Accolade Wines is mentioned 0 times. The brand tells a story of Australian origin while the corporate reality is carefully omitted.
Two Hands Wines was founded in 1999 by Michael Twelftree and Richard Mintz in the Barossa Valley, South Australia, with a stated mission to make Australia's best Shiraz. The brand quickly gained international acclaim, particularly in the US market, earning high scores from Robert Parker's Wine Advocate. In 2012, Accolade Wines (then owned by Champ Private Equity) acquired Two Hands. Accolade itself has been through multiple private equity owners, purchased by Carlyle Group in 2018. Twelftree remained involved post-acquisition, which helps maintain the artisan image while obscuring the corporate reality.
The website heavily features founder Michael Twelftree and tells a romantic story of passionate winemaking, with no disclosure of Accolade ownership. The 'Our Story' page reads like an independent boutique operation. Consumers paying premium prices likely believe they're supporting a small Australian winery, not a private equity portfolio company.
Profits flow to Accolade Wines Australia, ultimately to Carlyle Group, a Washington D.C.-based private equity giant managing over $380 billion in assets. While grapes are Australian-sourced and some jobs remain local, the significant profit margins on premium wines exit the country to international investors.
Purchasing Two Hands supports the consolidation of Australia's wine industry under private equity ownership. Premium pricing suggests craft authenticity, but returns flow to global capital rather than independent Australian producers. Local grape growers benefit, but brand profits don't stay in Australian hands.
For genuinely independent premium Barossa Shiraz, try Henschke (sixth-generation family-owned), Torbreck Vintners (Australian-owned), or Yangarra Estate (owned by the Jackson family). These producers offer comparable quality with profits staying in Australian family hands.