Australian Wine Holdco Limited — the consortium of investors that acquired a majority stake in Accolade Wines in February last year and has this month finalised acquisition of 10 Pernod Ricard wine brands — has launched a new global wine company called Vinarchy.
Already one of the world’s largest specialised wine companies with more than $1.5 billion in annual revenue and 1,600 employees, Vinarchy’s current portfolio spans 11 wineries across Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and Spain which collectively produce more than 32 million 9 litre cases annually.
Ben Clarke, who was named Executive Chairman of Accolade Wines in September 2024, has been appointed to the same executive position at Vinarchy for its debut while a search for a permanent CEO continues.
“We believe Vinarchy can lead the future of the wine category,” Ben Clarke said. “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.”
The creation of Vinarchy is the result of detailed transition planning by Australian Wine Holdco Limited which aims for a smooth combination of assets. As such, it is expected that customers and distributors will have minimal disruption.
According to Ben Clarke, Vinarchy will seek to offer a new solution to the challenges currently facing the global wine trade.
“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,” he said.
“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.”
Included In Vinarchy’s 11 brand portfolio is Hardys, Austraila’s second most valuable wine brand globally; Berri Estates, the largest winery in the Southern Hemisphere; Campo Viejo, the number one Rioja wine brand globally; and Jacob’s Creek, one of the world’s top-10 most valuable wine brands.
Alongside these brands, Vinarchy also holds the number one market position in New Zealand with Stoneleigh, Brancott Estate, and Mud House.
Finally, the Vinarchy portfolio also includes fast-growing Australian brands Grant Burge, Jam Shed, and Petaluma; and a range of fine wines from all regions including St Hugo, St Hallett, Orlando, Church Rd, Ysios, and Tarsus.
According to AWL, the combined entities of Vinarchy are intended to be complementary and with limited overlap. In areas where there is crossover, AWL says that management has been careful to plan for an orderly combination with a focus on creating a sustainable global business for the long term.
Accolade Wines employees will transition to the new business from their current roles, with a significant majority of Pernod Ricard Winemakers employees also joining Vinarchy. Pernod Ricard will also continue to distribute the former Pernod Ricard Winemakers portfolio under established transitional distribution agreements to support a smooth transition.
The Board of Vinarchy is in advanced stages of selecting a Chief Executive Officer and expects to formalise an appointment shortly.