A new global wine powerhouse has emerged with the official launch of Vinarchy, following the merger of Accolade Wines and the Australian, New Zealand, and Spanish wine businesses formerly owned by Pernod Ricard.
The company was formed by Australian Wine Holdco Limited (AWL), a consortium of international institutional investors, and is set to redefine the future of wine.
With annual net sales revenue exceeding AU$1.5 billion, Vinarchy is now one of the world’s largest specialist wine companies. It boasts a portfolio of leading global wine brands, operations in multiple countries, and a workforce of more than 1,600 employees.
Ben Clarke, Executive Director of Vinarcy, says, he believes Vinarchy can lead the future of the wine category.
“We will be a dedicated wine company, with scale, capability, reach, resources, talent, and an exceptional portfolio of leading brands. We want to redefine wine,” he said.
The company’s extensive assets include 11 wineries across Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and Spain, producing over 32 million nine-litre equivalent (9LE) cases annually. Among these is Berri Estates, the largest winery in the Southern Hemisphere.
Vinarchy’s brand portfolio features global icons such as:
Hardys: the world’s second-largest Australian wine brand,
Campo Viejo: the world’s number one Rioja wine brand,
Jacob’s Creek: ranked among the top 10 most valuable wine brands globally.
Combined, these three brands alone generated more than AU$2 billion in consumer sales in 2024.
Vinarchy also holds the number one market position in New Zealand, with standout brands including Stoneleigh, Brancott Estate, and Mud House. The company’s growth portfolio is further strengthened by Australian favourites like Grant Burge, Jam Shed, and Petaluma, as well as a premium fine wine collection spanning St Hugo, St Hallett, Orlando, Church Rd, Ysios, and Tarsus.
The name ‘Vinarchy’ blends vin (the French word for wine) and archy (from the Ancient Greek for leadership), symbolising wine leadership.
Clarke, who took the helm as Executive Chairman in 2024, brings more than 30 years of global experience in consumer products.
He underscores the strategic importance of innovation to Vinarchy’s mission, saying: “The global wine industry faces serious structural challenges. Global wine consumption has been declining for years, driven by changing consumer preferences and a shift to lower-alcohol drinks. Vinarchy will be bold and imaginative in meeting these challenges. With our enhanced scale, brand investment program, innovation capability and industry-leading talent, we believe can meet many of the challenges that the industry faces.”
“I’m excited to be joined at Vinarchy by more than 1,600 colleagues around the globe. We will be an agile, high-performance organisation,” he added.
The formation of Vinarchy follows careful planning by AWL since July 2024, aimed at ensuring a smooth integration of the merged entities. The businesses are said to be highly complementary, with limited overlap and a strategy focused on long-term sustainability.
Customer and distributor impact is expected to be minimal, with Pernod Ricard continuing to distribute the former Pernod Ricard Winemakers portfolio for a transitional period. Most employees from both Accolade Wines and Pernod Ricard Winemakers will join Vinarchy in their existing roles.
Vinarchy’s board is in the final stages of appointing a Chief Executive Officer, with an announcement expected soon.
