Pernod Ricard has signed an agreement to sell its international wine brands to Australian Wine Holdco Limited (AWL), a consortium of institutional investors that acquired Accolade Wines earlier this year.
The transaction includes brands such as Jacob’s Creek, Orlando, St Hugo, Stoneleigh, Brancott Estate, Church Road, Campo Viejo, Ysios, Tarsus, and Azpilicueta, along with seven wineries.
The French firm stated that the disposal was part of its “premiumisation strategy” and would allow it to focus its resources on its portfolio of international spirits and champagne brands, which are the business’s main growth drivers.
AWL is a consortium backed by Bain Capital, Intermediate Capital Group, Capital Four, Sona Asset Management, and Samuel Terry Asset Management. Its acquisition of struggling Australian wine producer Accolade Wines back in February included popular brands such as Hardys Wines, Jam Shed and Banrock Station.
Pernod Ricard stated that it was selling its wine division to “a player of global scale, with a route to market solely dedicated to the wine industry.”
It added that its wine bands would “benefit from the focus required to achieve their potential, reinforce their position, and seize new opportunities around the world.”
AWL spokesperson Joshua Hartz commented: “Both Accolade Wines and Pernod Ricard have a long, proud history as world-class wine producers. Combining Accolade Wines with the Pernod Ricard assets will create a more certain and financially sustainable future for the business, allowing us to better serve our customers, in more segments and more geographies.
“Backed by AWL, the combined business will be better able to adapt to changing consumer tastes and meet the structural challenges facing the global wine industry.”
No financial details of the deal were disclosed. It is subject to regulatory clearance and is expected to be completed during the second half of 2025.
The disposal comes after Pernod Ricard reported a fall in wine sales in its third quarter, mainly due to declines in the US and UK.
