Pernod Ricard’s sale of virtually all of its wine operations to the owner of Accolade Wines has been completed, leading to the creation of a global wine company, Vinarchy.
Australian Wine Holdco, the name given to the investor consortium that took control of Accolade in 2024, has fully acquired brands including Jacob’s Creek from Australia, Brancott Estate from New Zealand and Campo Viejo from Spain. Pernod Ricard, which announced the deal in July, will continue to distribute the now-sold wine portfolio for “a few months, facilitating a smooth transition across the globe”.
Details around the price paid were not disclosed, although Global Drinks Intel understands the cost is in the hundreds of millions of dollars.
Vinarchy, which will comprise Accolade’s existing operations with the new assets, claims to have annual sales in the region of AUD1.5bn (US$960m). The entity, taking its name from the French for ‘wine’ and the ancient Greek for ‘leadership’, will have 11 wineries in four countries – Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Spain – and will be centred around three “global pillars”, Hardys, Campo Viejo and Jacob’s Creek.
“We believe Vinarchy can lead the future of the wine category,” said chair Ben Clarke, who held the same role at Accolade. “We will be a dedicated wine company, with scale, capability, reach, resources, talent and an exceptional portfolio of leading brands.
“The global wine industry faces serious structural challenges. Vinarchy will be bold and imaginative in meeting these challenges. With our enhanced scale, brand investment programme, innovation capability and industry-leading talent, we believe can meet many of the challenges that the industry faces.”
Among the “industry-leading talent” to join Vinarchy are Dan Jago, formerly CEO of Berry Bros & Rudd, who will be a non-executive board member. The group has yet to appoint a CEO, although Accolade had kept the position vacant after Robert Foye stood down after almost five years in August.
In a separate statement, Pernod Ricard said: “This disposal will enable Pernod Ricard to focus on premium international spirits and champagne brands, driving the future growth of its business.”
The Paris-headquartered group still owns the likes of Kenwood and Mumm Napa Vineyards in the US, Bodega Etchart in Argentina, as well as Château Sainte Marguerite in France’s Provence region.
Earlier this year, Pernod Ricard was linked to a sale of champagne brand GH Mumm. Before that, divestments included mint liqueur Minttu to Royal Unibrew’s Hartwall in October and Red Heart rum to KWV in South Africa in August.
