Pernod Ricard Winemakers
Former global wine division of Pernod Ricard, built around major Australian, New Zealand, Spanish and American wine brands.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
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.
History
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.
- 2025
Operations merged into Vinarchy
[1]Pernod Ricard Winemakers merged its operations with Accolade Wines to create Vinarchy.
- 2019
Graffigna sold to VSPT
[1]Pernod Ricard sold the Argentine Graffigna brand to Chilean winery VSPT as part of portfolio rationalization.
- 2016
Dalwood Estate reopens under new ownership
[1]The former Wyndham Estate site reopened as Dalwood Estate after the Wyndham Estate business had been closed and sold.
- 2014
Kenwood Vineyards acquired
[1]Kenwood Vineyards joined the division's premium brand portfolio, extending its presence in California's Sonoma Valley.
- 2013
Pernod Ricard Winemakers name adopted
[1]Premium Wine Brands changed its name to Pernod Ricard Winemakers, reflecting an expanded international remit.
- 2013
Helan Mountain acquired
[1]Pernod Ricard added Helan Mountain, a winery in China's Ningxia region, to its wine portfolio.
- 2010
Premium Wine Brands launched
[1]Pernod Ricard established Premium Wine Brands to organize its Australian and New Zealand wine activities and renamed Montana Wines as Brancott Estate.
- 2005
Allied Domecq acquired by Pernod Ricard
[1]Pernod Ricard's acquisition of Allied Domecq added Montana and other wine interests, including Campo Viejo and Graffigna, to the group.
- 2000
Montana Wines acquires Corbans Wines
[1]Montana Wines acquired Corbans Wines, consolidating two major New Zealand wine businesses before both later entered the Allied Domecq and Pernod Ricard structures.
- 1990
Orlando Wyndham Group formed
[1]Orlando Wines and Wyndham Estate were merged to create the Orlando Wyndham Group.
Products and positioning
International wine portfolio spanning accessible premium, premium and regional appellation-led offerings.
Australian wine
Jacob's Creek
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.
New Zealand wine · 2010
Brancott Estate
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.
Spanish wine
Campo Viejo
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.
United States wine · 2014
Kenwood Vineyards
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.
Chinese wine · 2013
Helan Mountain
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.
New Zealand wine
Stoneleigh
Stoneleigh was among the additional New Zealand wine brands associated with Pernod Ricard Winemakers, complementing Brancott Estate within the group's New Zealand portfolio.
New Zealand wine
Church Road
Church Road was part of the division's broader New Zealand winery and brand portfolio, extending its range beyond the flagship Brancott Estate label.
Australian wine
St. Hugo
St. Hugo was one of the notable Australian wine brands held within the wider Pernod Ricard Winemakers portfolio.
Argentine wine
Bodegas Etchart
Bodegas Etchart was among the Argentine winery interests associated with Pernod Ricard Winemakers and contributed to the division's geographic breadth in South America.
Spanish wine
Ysios
Ysios was one of the Spanish wine holdings included in the broader portfolio managed by Pernod Ricard Winemakers.
Brand decisions
2025
Combination with Accolade WinesM&ABackground
Pernod Ricard's wine operations were combined with those of Accolade Wines.
Action taken
The two operations merged to create Vinarchy.
Aftermath
Pernod Ricard Winemakers ceased to exist as a standalone operating entity.
2019
Divestment of GraffignaM&ABackground
Pernod Ricard reviewed its wine portfolio and identified brands that no longer fit its strategic priorities.
Action taken
The Argentine Graffigna brand was sold to Chilean winery VSPT.
Aftermath
The transaction illustrated the group's continuing portfolio-concentration strategy.
2013
Rebranding as Pernod Ricard WinemakersStrategyBackground
The wine business had grown beyond its original Australian and New Zealand scope.
Action taken
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.
2010
Launch of Premium Wine BrandsStrategyBackground
Pernod Ricard needed an organizational structure for its Australian and New Zealand wine operations.
Action taken
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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