Pernod Ricard Winemakers

Pernod Ricard Winemakers was the wine division of Pernod Ricard, the French alcoholic-beverage group. Headquartered in Adelaide, Australia, the division managed an international portfolio of vineyards, wineries and wine labels assembled through Pernod Ricard's acquisitions and the group's earlier Australian and New Zealand wine operations. Its principal role was to produce, market and distribute wines across multiple national markets rather than to operate as a single consumer-facing label. The business developed from the Australian and New Zealand companies that had previously operated as Premium Wine Brands and Pernod Ricard Pacific. Its roots within the Pernod Ricard group extended back to the 1989 acquisition of Orlando Wines and its Jacob's Creek brand. In 1990, Orlando Wines was combined with Wyndham Estate to form the Orlando Wyndham Group. A separate strand of the portfolio came through Montana Wines in New Zealand. Montana acquired Corbans Wines in 2000 and was subsequently acquired by Allied Domecq. When Pernod Ricard purchased Allied Domecq in 2005, Montana and the associated wine holdings became part of Pernod Ricard's Pacific operations. Pernod Ricard formalized a dedicated wine division in 2010 by launching Premium Wine Brands for its Australian and New Zealand activities. That restructuring also included the renaming of Montana Wines as Brancott Estate. Some acquired brands were divested, including Corbans and Lindauer, which were sold to Lion. In 2013, Premium Wine Brands adopted the name Pernod Ricard Winemakers, reflecting its broader role as the umbrella organization for Pernod Ricard's wine activities in other countries. The division's best-known brands included Jacob's Creek from Australia's Barossa Valley, Brancott Estate from New Zealand's Marlborough region, Campo Viejo from Spain's Rioja appellation and Kenwood Vineyards from California's Sonoma Valley. Its wider portfolio also included Stoneleigh, Church Road, Poet's Corner, St. Hugo, Bodegas Etchart, Ysios, Helan Mountain and other regional wineries. Pernod Ricard's wider wine holdings also included Champagne houses Mumm and Perrier-Jouët, although the division's public brand groupings could span a broader set of wine and sparkling-wine assets. The company continued to reshape its portfolio through acquisitions and disposals. It purchased Helan Mountain in China's Ningxia region in 2013 and acquired Kenwood Vineyards in 2014, adding a premium American wine business. In 2019, it sold the Argentine brand Graffigna to Chilean producer VSPT, consistent with a stated policy of removing brands that no longer fitted the group's portfolio. Wyndham Estate was closed and sold in Australia and later reopened under new ownership as Dalwood Estate in 2016. Pernod Ricard Winemakers ceased to operate as a standalone entity in 2025, when its operations were merged with those of Accolade Wines to create Vinarchy. Accordingly, the name is best understood as a former Pernod Ricard wine-business division rather than an active independent company. Individual brands and production assets may continue under the successor structure or other ownership arrangements.

Pernod Ricard Winemakers emerged from Pernod Ricard's accumulation and consolidation of wine businesses in Australia, New Zealand and other producing countries. Its corporate ancestry can be traced to Pernod Ricard's 1989 purchase of Orlando Wines, which brought Jacob's Creek into the group. In 1990, Orlando Wines and Wyndham Estate were combined into the Orlando Wyndham Group, establishing an important Australian operating base. In New Zealand, Montana Wines acquired Corbans Wines in 2000. Montana subsequently came under Allied Domecq, which also owned wine interests including Campo Viejo and Graffigna. Pernod Ricard's acquisition of Allied Domecq in 2005 transferred Montana and those associated holdings into the Pernod Ricard group. Montana was later incorporated into the group's Pacific wine structure, known as Pernod Ricard Pacific. Pernod Ricard launched Premium Wine Brands in 2010 to organize its Australian and New Zealand wine operations. During that process, Montana Wines was renamed Brancott Estate. The group also rationalized the inherited portfolio, selling Corbans and Lindauer to Lion. In 2013, Premium Wine Brands was renamed Pernod Ricard Winemakers and expanded from a regional structure into the group's broader international wine organization. The division added assets through targeted acquisitions. Helan Mountain, a winery in China's Ningxia region, was acquired in 2013. In 2014, Pernod Ricard purchased Kenwood Vineyards in California, strengthening its premium American offering. The division's principal brands included Jacob's Creek, Brancott Estate, Campo Viejo and Kenwood Vineyards, supported by additional wineries and labels in Australia, New Zealand, Spain, Argentina, China and other markets. Portfolio management remained a continuing feature of the business. Wyndham Estate was closed and sold, later reopening under new ownership as Dalwood Estate in 2016. In 2019, Pernod Ricard sold Graffigna to VSPT. The disposal reflected the group's approach of concentrating resources on wine brands that fit its desired portfolio and strategic priorities. In 2025, Pernod Ricard Winemakers' operations were merged with those of Accolade Wines to create Vinarchy. This transaction ended the division's existence as a standalone Pernod Ricard wine organization. Its historical significance lies in the way it integrated a multinational wine portfolio under Pernod Ricard while retaining strong regional identities and brand-specific production origins.

1. 2025Operations merged into Vinarchy

   Pernod Ricard Winemakers merged its operations with Accolade Wines to create Vinarchy.

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2. 2019Graffigna sold to VSPT

   Pernod Ricard sold the Argentine Graffigna brand to Chilean winery VSPT as part of portfolio rationalization.

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3. 2016Dalwood Estate reopens under new ownership

   The former Wyndham Estate site reopened as Dalwood Estate after the Wyndham Estate business had been closed and sold.

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4. 2014Kenwood Vineyards acquired

   Kenwood Vineyards joined the division's premium brand portfolio, extending its presence in California's Sonoma Valley.

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5. 2013Pernod Ricard Winemakers name adopted

   Premium Wine Brands changed its name to Pernod Ricard Winemakers, reflecting an expanded international remit.

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6. 2013Helan Mountain acquired

   Pernod Ricard added Helan Mountain, a winery in China's Ningxia region, to its wine portfolio.

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7. 2010Premium Wine Brands launched

   Pernod Ricard established Premium Wine Brands to organize its Australian and New Zealand wine activities and renamed Montana Wines as Brancott Estate.

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8. 2005Allied Domecq acquired by Pernod Ricard

   Pernod Ricard's acquisition of Allied Domecq added Montana and other wine interests, including Campo Viejo and Graffigna, to the group.

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9. 2000Montana Wines acquires Corbans Wines

   Montana Wines acquired Corbans Wines, consolidating two major New Zealand wine businesses before both later entered the Allied Domecq and Pernod Ricard structures.

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10. 1990Orlando Wyndham Group formed

    Orlando Wines and Wyndham Estate were merged to create the Orlando Wyndham Group.

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11. 1989Pernod Ricard acquires Orlando Wines

    Pernod Ricard purchased Orlando Wines, bringing the Jacob's Creek wine label into its portfolio.

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International wine portfolio spanning accessible premium, premium and regional appellation-led offerings.

• Jacob's CreekAustralian wine

  Jacob's Creek is an Australian wine brand associated with the Barossa Valley and the Orlando Wines business acquired by Pernod Ricard in 1989. It became one of the division's principal international labels and represented the group's Australian heritage in both domestic and export markets.

• Brancott EstateNew Zealand wine2010

  Brancott Estate is a New Zealand wine brand, predominantly associated with Marlborough. It was created through the 2010 renaming of Montana Wines and served as one of the division's major New Zealand labels.

• Campo ViejoSpanish wine

  Campo Viejo is a Spanish wine brand connected with Rioja DOC. It entered Pernod Ricard's wine portfolio through the group's acquisition of Allied Domecq and formed one of the division's principal European offerings.

• Kenwood VineyardsUnited States wine2014

  Kenwood Vineyards is a California wine producer based in Sonoma Valley. Pernod Ricard acquired it in 2014 and incorporated it into the premium wine portfolio, giving the division a stronger presence in the United States.

• Helan MountainChinese wine2013

  Helan Mountain is a winery in China's Ningxia region. Pernod Ricard acquired the business in 2013 as part of its effort to develop an international wine portfolio with production in emerging wine regions.

• StoneleighNew Zealand wine

  Stoneleigh was among the additional New Zealand wine brands associated with Pernod Ricard Winemakers, complementing Brancott Estate within the group's New Zealand portfolio.

• Church RoadNew Zealand wine

  Church Road was part of the division's broader New Zealand winery and brand portfolio, extending its range beyond the flagship Brancott Estate label.

• St. HugoAustralian wine

  St. Hugo was one of the notable Australian wine brands held within the wider Pernod Ricard Winemakers portfolio.

• Bodegas EtchartArgentine wine

  Bodegas Etchart was among the Argentine winery interests associated with Pernod Ricard Winemakers and contributed to the division's geographic breadth in South America.

• YsiosSpanish wine

  Ysios was one of the Spanish wine holdings included in the broader portfolio managed by Pernod Ricard Winemakers.

• 2025Combination with Accolade WinesM&A

  Pernod Ricard's wine operations were combined with those of Accolade Wines.

  What changed. The two operations merged to create Vinarchy.

  Aftermath. Pernod Ricard Winemakers ceased to exist as a standalone operating entity.

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• 2019Divestment of GraffignaM&A

  Pernod Ricard reviewed its wine portfolio and identified brands that no longer fit its strategic priorities.

  What changed. The Argentine Graffigna brand was sold to Chilean winery VSPT.

  Aftermath. The transaction illustrated the group's continuing portfolio-concentration strategy.

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• 2013Rebranding as Pernod Ricard WinemakersStrategy

  The wine business had grown beyond its original Australian and New Zealand scope.

  What changed. Premium Wine Brands adopted the Pernod Ricard Winemakers name and became the umbrella organization for the group's wine operations in other countries.

  Aftermath. The division operated an international portfolio spanning major wine-producing regions and added Helan Mountain in China the same year.

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• 2010Launch of Premium Wine BrandsStrategy

  Pernod Ricard needed an organizational structure for its Australian and New Zealand wine operations.

  What changed. The group created Premium Wine Brands and renamed Montana Wines as Brancott Estate while rationalizing parts of the inherited brand portfolio.

  Aftermath. The organization later expanded internationally and was renamed Pernod Ricard Winemakers in 2013.

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• 2025Pernod Ricard Winemakers operations merge with Accolade Wines to form Vinarchy

  Pernod Ricard Winemakers merged its operations with those of Accolade Wines, creating Vinarchy and ending Pernod Ricard Winemakers' standalone corporate existence.

  M&A
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• 2025Pernod Ricard Winemakers merges with Accolade Wines to form Vinarchy

  Pernod Ricard combined its wine operations with those of Accolade Wines, creating Vinarchy and ending Pernod Ricard Winemakers' existence as a standalone wine organisation.

  M&A
  Source
• 2019Pernod Ricard sells Graffigna wine brand to VSPT

  Pernod Ricard sold the Argentine wine brand Graffigna to Chilean producer VSPT as part of a portfolio review focused on divesting brands considered no longer strategically suitable.

  M&A
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• 2019Pernod Ricard sells Graffigna to VSPT

  Pernod Ricard sold the Argentine wine brand Graffigna to Chilean wine producer VSPT as part of a broader effort to dispose of brands that no longer fit its portfolio.

  M&A
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• 2014Kenwood Vineyards added to Pernod Ricard's premium wine portfolio

  Pernod Ricard purchased Kenwood Vineyards, expanding its premium wine holdings in California's Sonoma Valley.

  M&A
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• 2013Premium Wine Brands renamed Pernod Ricard Winemakers

  The Australian and New Zealand wine organization Premium Wine Brands changed its name to Pernod Ricard Winemakers as the division broadened into an international umbrella for Pernod Ricard's wine operations.

  Leadership change
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1. Pernod Ricard Winemakers