New wine supplier combines Accolade and Pernod Ricard’s portfolio

Australian Wine Holdco (AWL), a consortium of international institutional investors, has created Vinarchy, a new global wine company.

Vinarchy combines the assets of wholly-owned Accolade Wines with the Australian, New Zealand and Spanish wine businesses previously owned by Pernod Ricard, which were acquired by AWL in April 2025.

Former Pernot Ricard wine brands including Campo Viejo and Jacob’s Creek will line up within Vinarchy’s portfolio alongside Accolade’s Australian wine, Hardys.

A company spokesperson told The Caterer the new combined supplier will work to “make sure customers and distributors will have no disruption and a seamless transition”. Pernod Ricard will initially continue to distribute the former Pernod Ricard Winemakers portfolio to support a smooth handover for customers and distributors from later in the year.

Vinarchy expects to generate more than AU$1.5b (£720m) in annual net sales revenue. The business operates across multiple countries with distribution around the world and employs more than 1,600 people globally.

The supplier’s 11 wineries in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Spain produce more than 32 million 9-litre equivalent cases annually. Vinarchy also owns Berri Estates, the largest winery in the southern Hemisphere.

Vinarchy is led by executive chairman Ben Clarke, who has held a similar role at Accolade Wines since September 2024. “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.

“With our enhanced scale, brand investment programme, innovation capability and industry-leading talent, we believe we can meet many of the challenges that the industry faces.”

Accolade employees will transition to the new business from their current roles, with a majority of Pernod Ricard Winemakers employees also joining Vinarchy. 

The company’s board is in advanced stages of selecting a chief executive officer and expects to formalise an appointment shortly.