09-07-2025
Pasqua Wines invests in Charles Smith wine brand alongside distribution deal
Italian winery Pasqua Wines has acquired a minority stake in a wine brand from US-winemaker Charles Smith's House of Smith, and signed an international distribution deal with the vintner.
In a statement, Pasqua Wines said it will distribute House of Smith's K Vintners, Real Wine and Sex wine brands across global markets from September.
Pasqua is to take up to a 20% stake in the Real Wine brand, tied to "performance and growth targets", a joint statement said.
Charles Smith, founder of the US wine group of the same name, said the partnership gives his company 'access to an international network that will allow us to share the story of our wines, rooted in place, purpose, and passion, with more people than ever before'.
Details of the prospective markets where Pasqua will manage distribution for Charles Smith's three wine brands are not being disclosed for now. The US market however will not be included in the agreement, with Charles Smith already having distribution here, Pasqua Wines CEO Riccardo Pasqua told Just Drinks.
Pasqua sells its wines, which include the 11 Minutes and Hey French labels, to over 70 countries worldwide, including Scandinavia, Dubai, Australia and South America.
Riccardo added: "Although Charles Smith's wines have been available in various markets, their international reach has not been as extensive or fully developed as the network Pasqua can provide."
In its most recent results, Pasqua reported a consolidated turnover of €63.5m ($74.36m), growing 6% year-on-year. This was fuelled by performance in the US which makes up a third of the company's exports.
Reflecting on the Real Wine stake, Pasqua said both wine businesses had formed a 'deeper alliance, not just a commercial partnership,' he said.
He added: 'To underscore their long-term commitment, Pasqua becomes a minority partner in Real Wine, reflecting their intent to go beyond distribution into genuine partnership based on shared growth."
When asked about its distribution strategy for the Charles Smith wines, Pasqua said the winery is looking to develop a 'tailor-made strategy for each market' and is 'evaluating both the on‑trade and off‑trade channels according to the segment of Charles Smith's portfolio selected for that specific territory".
Charles Smith used to own a clutch of wine brands under the Charles Smith Wines title. These were sold to Constellation Brands in 2016, and eventually sold to The Wine Group in 2022.
Ackley Brands acquired the business last year. The deal included the brands Band of Roses, Kung Fu Girl, Eve, Chateau Smith, The Velvet Devil and Boom Boom.
Charles Smith renamed his wine company House of Smith in 2021.
"Pasqua Wines invests in Charles Smith wine brand alongside distribution deal " was originally created and published by Just Drinks, a GlobalData owned brand.
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