As newly created wine company, Vinarchy, starts streamlining operations between what was Accolade Wines and Pernod Ricard wines, it says Berri Estates in the Riverland will be its primary commercial winemaking, packaging, and warehousing hub. Adelaide will be its global corporate headquarters.
The 12-month transition plan includes establishing two winemaking hubs in South Australia and a shift to focus investment at key cellar door locations. Rolf Binder and Banrock Station cellar door and restaurant operations will close.
The company said it will invest $30 million at its Rowland Flat site and build it into a centre of excellence for premium and sparkling wine. It will support advanced viticulture and winemaking techniques.
Berri Estates will become the primary commercial winemaking, packaging, and warehousing hub. The company has invested more than $70 million into the state-of-the-art site, which has been designed to deliver scale, efficiency, and world-class quality to support global demand for Australian wine.
“These important changes represent Vinarchy’s commitment to building a stronger winemaking footprint in South Australia … strengthening the business and ensuring we remain competitive in the face of ongoing challenges in the global wine market,” Russo said.
As part of the transition, winemaking at its St Hallett winery in the Barossa and Hardy’s Tintara winery in McLaren Vale will move to Rowland Flat for the 2026 and 2027 vintages respectively. Long term plans for both sites to be worked through as part of the transition.
“Both St Hallett and Hardys are critical brands for Vinarchy and we recognise the rich local history they have in the Barossa and McLaren Vale. While our winemaking will move, our commitment to quality wines, local sourcing and premium cellar door experiences for these brands do not change.
“These wines will be made with the same grapes from the same regions, by the same winemakers, just at another winery,” he said.
The company said it was “committed to maintaining a compelling and sustainable cellar door footprint” at its primary brand experiences in South Australia: Jacob’s Creek, St Hugo, Hardys, St Hallett, Grant Burge, Katnook Estate, and Petaluma.
As part of these plans, Rolf Binder and Banrock Station cellar door and restaurant operations will close. Vineyard and viticulture operations at these sites will be unaffected.
“We are deeply mindful of the impact these changes may have on our people,” said Mr Russo.
“Where roles are affected, we are committed to supporting our teams through redeployment opportunities to other locations in many cases, or, where necessary, redundancy and outplacement support. We will continue to consult closely with our teams over the coming months as we make this transition.”
Vinarchy said it, “remains committed to its long-standing partnerships with regional suppliers and premium grape growers across the Riverland, McLaren Vale, Adelaide Hills, the Barossa and Coonawarra, which will remain unchanged and continue to be vital to Vinarchy’s global success”.
