Constellation Brands, Inc.
is a leading international
producer and marketer of
beverage alcohol brands
with a broad portfolio
across the wine, imported
beer and spirits categories.
It began in 1945 when at the age of 21, Marvin Sands forms the Canandaigua Industries Company. With only eight employees, their strategy is to sell bulk wine in barrels to bottlers in the East. In this first year, the company sells approximately 200,000 gallons of wine and has gross sales of $150,000.
In 1948 they purchased The Mother Vineyard Company in Manteo, North Carolina and the Onslow Wine Company also located in North Carolina are purchased. Both wineries produce Scuppernong Wine, a varietal wine produced from indigenous grapes that is very popular throughout the South.
In 1954 The introduction of the Richard's Wild Irish Rose brand spearheads the growth of the company. With bottling taking place at five different locations in the U.S. , this unique franchising system allows the brand to grow rapidly with minimal capital investment. As a result of this system, Canandaigua Industries is able to develop its own wine production facilities to meet the explosive demand for Wild Irish Rose.
In 1965 Canandaigua Industries sales force and distributor network increases throughout the 1960s with the growth of the Wild Irish Rose brand. During this period of growth, the Tenner Brothers Winery in South Carolina is purchased and the Virginia Dare label joins the family on a royalty basis. This is folled by the purchase of Hammondsport Wine
In 1972 they purchase The Eastern Wine Company in New York and the label Chateau Martin label
The Company becomes Canandaigua Wine Company, Inc. in late 1972 and goes public in 1973.
Acquisitions in the 70's continues to fuel the company's growth. Several brands are purchased for production at Richard's Wine Cellars. In 1974, Canandaigua Wine Company heads west and acquires the Bisceglia Brothers Winery in Madera, California. Expansion of the Richard Wine label proves successful
In 1984 Sun Country Cooler is created and rolled out nationwide. It involves a tremendous effort by all employees at Canandaigua Wine Company and sells one million cases within six months.
In 1987 Widmer Wine Cellars in Naples, New York and the Manischewitz brand assets of the Monarch Wine Company in Brooklyn are purchased. Production of the Manischewitz brand is moved to Widmer, as well as a number of wines formerly produced at the Taylor Wine Company in Hammondsport , New York.
1990: Italian Swiss Colony dessert wines are purchased, including the Jacques Bonet line of sparkling wines.
The Company acquires in 1991all the assets and certain liabilities of Guild Wineries, a California based cooperative owned and managed by grape growers in the region. At the time of the acquisition, Guild represents the nation's seventh largest wine producer. The acquisition is consistent with the Company's strategy to expand its portfolio of brands and reflects the growing consolidation in the United States wine industry. This is the Company's first entry into the California wine market and includes the Cribari, Dunnewood and Cook's brands. Net sales at this time are approximately $200 million.
In 994: Canandaigua Wine Company purchases Mission Bell Winery from Heublein. This includes the Almaden and Inglenook wine brands and the grape juice concentrate business
In 1995: The acquisition of certain assets of United Distillers Glenmore gives the company a significant presence in the cordial and liqueur category with the addition of the following brands: Mr. Boston, Canadian LTD, Skol, Old Thompson, Kentucky Tavern, Glenmore, di Amore, Fleischmann's, Chi Chi's, and Schenley.
In 1997 Canandaigua Brands, Inc. is formed as the parent company of Canandaigua Wine Company and Barton Incorporated, following a decade of acquisitions resulting in a diversified product portfolio expanding beyond the wine business.
The Arbor Mist product is launched 1998, resulting in the creation of a new wine category, "Wine With Fruit". This is one of the most successful product launches in the Company's history. Also acquired is Matthew Clark, plc, one of U.K. 's leading producers of British wines, cider and bottled waters.
including the Blackstone brand and the Codera winery in Sonoma County.
in April of 1999 the Company acquires several Canadian Whisky brands, including #3 Canadian Whiskey, Black Velvet.
In June of 1999 the purchase of the Simi Winery and Franciscan Vineyards properties and portfolios creates a fourth division of Canandaigua Brands, Inc., The Fine Wine Division. This division will operate under Franciscan Estates to concentrate its efforts on the ultra-premium wine category. The company's portfolio now includes such brands as Estancia, Franciscan, Mount Veeder , Veramonte and Simi.
In 2000 Constellation Brands' Matthew Clark division acquired Forth Wines Limited, a wine and spirits wholesaler operated primarily in Scotland
Constellation Brands
September 2000: Canandaigua Brands, Inc. accepts name change to Constellation Brands, Inc. (NYSE: STZ, STZ.B). The new name better reflects the scope of the company and its broad range of over products to satisfy a wide range of consumer preferences.
In July 2001 Ravenswood, the best selling premium red zinfandel in the US., is acquired making Franciscan Estates one ofthe most sought after wine portfolios in the industry. The formation of Pacific Wine Partners creates a joint venture shared by BRL Hardy and Constellation with distribution rights for the following brands: Bancock Station, Hardys, Leasingham, Barossa Valley Estate, Chateau Reynella from Australia, Nobilo from New Zealand and La Baume from France. Pacific Wine Partners acquired certain assets of Blackstone Winery,including the Blackstone brand and the Codera winery in Sonoma County.
In April 2003 Constellation completes the acquisition of BRL Hardy Ltd. Pacific Wine Partners, a 50/50 joint venture of Constellation and BRL Hardy, now becomes a wholly-owned subsidiary and the Australian part of the business is renamed Hardy Wine Co. It commands 25% of the domestic Australian market and exports to more than 60 countries. With the acquisition, Constellation becomes the world's largest producer and marketer of wine, and the first truly international wine company with annual sales in excess of 80 million cases of wine annually. Appropriately enough, in 2003, Hardy Wines celebrates its Sesquicentennial.
In December 2004 Constellation acquires The Robert Mondavi Corp. for $1.03 billion. Mondavi wines are among the most respected premium and super-premium New World wines and the purchase complements the Company's premium wine portfolio. Constellation Brands alsopurchases 40% of Ruffino,purchases 40% of Ruffino, further enhancing the Company's portfolio of fine European wines. Effen Vodka, a luxury, high-end import from Holland, is added to Constellation's spirit portfolio.
In October 2005 Barton Brands acquires Cocktails by Jenn, a line of premium vodka cocktails and Constellation Brands completes acquisition of the Rex Goliath wine brand from California 's Hahn Estates.
In June 2006: more than 95 percent of Vincor International Inc. shareholders overwhelmingly vote in favor of the arrangement transaction in which Constellation Brands acquires all of the shares of Canada 's premier wine company.
Vincor International Inc acquires Medallion Wine Marketing Inc 2008
Wines
Icon Estates
Icon Estates (IE), the fine wine business of Constellation Wines located in St. Helena, California, is a portfolio of estate wineries comprising more than 3,000 acres of top-quality vineyards in the premium appellations of California and Chile. Wineries in the portfolio include Franciscan Oakville Estate, Mount Veeder and Robert Mondavi wines in Napa; Simi in Sonoma County; Estancia in Monterey County; and Columbia Winery in Washington State. Additionally, Icon Estates distributes the following brands: Inniskillin from Canada; Drylands from Marlborough, New Zealand; Kim Crawford from New Zealand; Tintara from the MacLaren Vale, Australia; and Ruffino from Italy.
VineOne
VineOne, based in San Francisco, California, is the premium wine company of Constellation Wines U.S. VineOne has four brands with #1 share in their price segments and 19 wines with #1 market share in their varietal segments. Some leading VineOne brands include Woodbridge by Robert Mondavi, Clos du Bois, Black Box, Nobilo, Robert Mondavi Private Selection, Ravenswood, Blackstone, and Toasted Head.
Centerra Wine Company, Inc. Centerra Wine Company (CWC), located in Canandaigua, New York, is the sales and marketing business focusing on the popular and premium segments of the wine category with more than 20 well-known brands, including Alice White, Arbor Mist, Cook's, Talus, Vendange, Woodbridge by Robert Mondavi, Monkey Bay, Ravenswood, Rex Goliath, RH Phillips, Toasted Head, Hogue, and Turner Road.
Vincor became part of the Constellation family, thereby adding Canada as a fifth core market. Vincor's well-known wine portfolio became an excellent fit within Constellation's existing portfolio and includes Inniskillin, Jackson-Triggs, Sumac Ridge, and Le Clos Jordanne.
Note By no means is this a complete list of all Constellation Brands transactions. The company has not responded to any inmformation requests
