Wine News - SF Chronicle: Constellation Brands buys several California premium wine labels

Some interesting news coming out of Cali, the mega winemaker, Constellation is buying several high end labels in Napa and Sonoma...from the San Franscisco Chronicle below:

Constellation Brands buys several California premium wine
labels
Sam Zuckerman,
Chronicle Staff Writer
Tuesday, November 13, 2007

Constellation Brands, the world's biggest winemaker, said Monday that it has agreed to buy several well-known premium labels, including the popular Clos du Bois brand, a major addition to its California operations.

The company, based in upstate New York, will pay $885 million for the U.S. wine business of Fortune Brands, which also includes the Geyser Peak, Wild Horse, Buena Vista Carneros and Gary Farrell labels. As part of the deal, Constellation is acquiring about 1,500 acres of vineyards in Sonoma and Napa counties.

The Fortune wines sell approximately 2.6 million cases annually. Clos du Bois, which Fortune
describes as the nation's No. 2 super-premium wine brand, represents about 2 million cases of that total.

The deal, which could close before year-end, builds on Constellation's existing California wine business. The company catapulted to the top rank of Northern California wine production in 2004 when it agreed to buy Robert Mondavi, one of winemaking's most prestigious names...
For the rest click here.

I don't know what type of impact this will have on these specific labels, but I always find it interesting - the struggle of the family owned or smaller winery verse the large conglomerate. I guess I tend to get caught up in the romanticism of the family wineries opposed to drinking wine from a mega-producer. But I guess at the end of the day, it's all about the quality of wine. But two wines together one owned by a multi-national and the other owned by a small group of investors, I'll go with the little guy. (Did I mention I like the movie Rudy)


On a slightly separate note, I did read that the 2004 Robert Mondavi Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley Reserve - recently ranked number nine on Wine Spectator's Top 100 Wines of 2007 list - because of the sale to Constellation will be the last vintage produced by the family . Might be worth picking up a few bottles for that reason alone.


GrapeNut

Obsessive Compulsive Wine Drinking? Don't laugh, it happens.

Hey kids. It's been a while since my last post. Things have been a little crazy lately, and I apologize for the lack of content. I wanted to get a flavor for what y'all have been drinking lately. Me personally, I find I go through periods where I consistently want to drink the same type of wine over and over...until of course I get sick of it and don't want to drink it for another 2 months. Does this happen to you? Don't be alarmed, it happens to many wine drinkers.

In fact, I believe my wife is in the middle of a Brunello phase, and Grape Nut was telling me the other night that he is on a Baby Brunello binge. My dad is in a Leaping Lizard Cabernet craze...a wine I introduced him to, and one that I think makes a fine everyday wine. So what is it exactly? Are we no better than heroin addicts? Am I a drug pusher for inflicting this obsessive behavior on my dad? Well I say hello NO! It happens...when something gives you pleasure, you tend to repeat the activity. It's basic human nature...much like sexy time.

Anyway, I am deep in the throws of a Pinot Noir fad. It's interesting, because I've never been a particularly big fan of Pinot. But right now, I am really enjoying it. It all started several weeks back, when my wife and I enjoyed a bottle of Pinot at a local restaurant. So much so that I went out and bought 6 bottles of that particular bottle (Pessagno Central Avenue Pinot Noir 2005, from California) and 6 other randomly selected bottles...most of which are now gone. Ok, stop looking at me like I'm a wino.

So, I've aired my dirty laundry and told you what I've been obsessing over, now it's your turn to spill the beans. Is there a particular variety of wine you're enjoying right now that you can't seem to transition from? C'mon, don't be shy. I promise I won't make fun of you...even if it is Franzia White Zinfandel.

Think of it this way...the info you provide will be helpful for when Grape Nut and I decide to organize a wine tasting. Something we have discussed by the way.

The microphone is open, so sound off!