Market Watch, January 2020

mwNEWSSupplier News WineGallo Acquires Pahlmeyer WineryE J Gallo has acquired Napa Valley based Pahlmeyer Winery for an undis closed sum With the deal Gallo gains the Pahlmeyer and Jayson by Pahlmeyer brands which are known for Bordeaux style wines and range in price from 30 350 at retail Pahlmeyer comple ments our portfolio nicely allowing Gallo to continue competing in luxury wine and fueling strategic growth for the company said Roger Nabedian senior vice president and general manager of Gallos premium wine division Gallo said in a statement that it would continue working with founder Jayson Pahlmeyer and his daughter Cleo as it assimilates the brand into its expanding luxury portfolio which also includes Louis M Martini Orin Swift William Hill Estate MacMurray Estate Vine yards J Vineyards Winery and Talbott Vineyards As part of the agreement Gallo will lease Waters Ranch a vine yard in Atlas Peak and will continue to operate the Jayson tasting room that opened in The Village at Vista Collina Resort in Napa just over a year ago Pahl meyers Wayfarer brand and Wayfarer Vineyard are not part of the sale and will continue to be run by Cleo Pahlmeyer Randall Graham SellsBonny DoonRandall Grahm one of Californias most innovative vintners and the founder of Bonny Doon Vineyard has sold the brand to WarRoom Ventures LLC after 35 years in business Terms of the deal werent disclosed but Grahm will remain as winemaker and a partner with WarRoom Bonny Doons production manager Nicole Walsh will also stay on board to over see the winemaking Symington UpdatesCockburns LookCockburns part of the Symington Family Estates portfolio has introduced a packaging revamp for its core Port range including Fine Ruby Fine Tawny and Special Reserve The new look includes a contemporary interpretation of vintage Cockburns labels from the early 20th century informative rhyming couplets on the front label a new logo featuring two cockerels sharing a glass of Port a new strapline Welcome to the Family and an embossed logo for the Special Reserve Port 20 a 750 ml Cockburns sells approxi mately 30000 cases in the U S annu ally according to Impact Databank Supplier News BeerConstellation OffloadsBallast PointConstellation Brands has agreed to sell craft brewer Ballast Point to Chicagos Kings Convicts Brewing Co for an undisclosed sum The deal is expected to close by the end of Constellations 2020 fiscal year and will also include Ballast Points brewpubs and production facili ties In addition Kings and Convicts will retain Ballast Points existing employees The agreement will not include Constel lations Craft Specialty operations in Daleville Virginia Trends in the U S craft beer segment have shifted dramat ically since our acquisition of Ballast Point said Bill Newlands Constella tion Brands president and CEO This decision allows Constellation to focus more fully on maximizing growth for our high performing import portfolio and upcoming new product introduc tions Constellation Brands purchased Ballast Point for roughly 1 billion in 2015 and oversaw a packaging redesign and price drop in 2017 amid increas ingly challenging conditions for large craft breweries Bold Rock JoinsBrewing CollectiveNellysford Virginia based cider maker Bold Rock is set to join Artisanal Brew ing Ventures ABV the collective that includes Sixpoint Brewery South ern Tier Brewing and Victory Brewing By joining ABV Bold Rock gains access to the alliances production facilities sales team and distribution network Founded in 2012 Bold Rock operates four taprooms in Virginia and North California and produces 12 styles of hard cider that include a 6 abv Rosé 47 abv Pear and 47 abv hopped India Pressed Apple Breakside Brewery Plans Next VentureBreakside Brewery veterans Will Jaquiss and Nao Ohdera are planning to open a new craft beer project in Austin Texas in April The new oper ation Meanwhile Brewing Co will be located in southeast Austin initially opening with a 15 barrel brewery and 250 seat taproom on 37 acres The facility will have capacity to expand to 10000 barrels of production in the future Meanwhile Brewing intends to focus on a wide variety of draft beers in its first year of operations including sessionable hoppy ales and wood aged sours with monthly can releases for specialty offerings McGee Family PurchasesCalifornia Brewing Co Boonville California based Anderson Valley Brewing Co has been acquired by the McGee family Financial terms werent disclosed Kevin McGee an attorney turned brewer is now presi dent and CEO In 2007 McGee who was previously legal counsel to the late wine icon Jess Jackson converted his garage into a licensed commercial brew ery which became the single barrel capacity Healdsburg Beer Co That operation will remain separate from Anderson Valley whose year round brews include Barkleys Belgian ale Boont Amber ale and Hop Ottin IPA among others Allagash ExpandsDistribution FootprintPortland Maine based Allagash Brew ing is expanding distribution of its canned offerings to seven new states 88 MARKET WATCH MARKETWATCHMAG COM JANUARY FEBRUARY 2020MW0120_