Accolade announces name change to Vinarchy, forms world’s largest specialist wine company
Accolade Wines and the Australian, New Zealand and Spanish wine assets formerly owned by Pernod Ricard – will now be combined and known as Vinarchy. This new entity will be the world’s largest specialist wine companies, with more than AU$1.5 billion in annual net sales revenue. The business will employ more than 1,600 people globally.
Vinarchy has 11 wineries in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and Spain, producing more than 32 million 9LE cases annually, and owns Berri Estates, the largest winery in the Southern Hemisphere. Vinarchy brands include the three global pillars of Hardys – the number two Australian wine brand globally,
Campo Viejo – the number one Rioja wine brand in the world,
Jacob’s Creek – in the top 10 most valuable wine brands in the world,
Alongside these brands, Vinarchy holds the number one market position in New Zealand with Stoneleigh, Brancott Estate, and Mud House.
The Vinarchy portfolio also includes Australian brands Grant Burge, Jam Shed, and Petaluma (which the press release described ass “fast-growing”) and a range of fine wines including St Hugo, St Hallett, Orlando, Church Rd, Ysios, and Tarsus.
The new name Vinarchy combines Vin (the French word for wine), with Archy (from the Ancient Greek word for leadership). Together it’s meant to mean wine leadership.
Vinarchy is led by Executive Chairman Ben Clarke, who held a similar role at Accolade Wines since September 2024.
Ben Clarke said Vinarchy will bring scale and innovation to global winemaking:
“We believe 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.
“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.”
