North Bay Business Journal

Tony Cartlidge

Bob Babbe

Paul Moser

AMERICAN CANYON — Vintage Wine Estates, a Santa Rosa-based portfolio of wine brands, on Tuesday acquired the 100,000-case-a-year Cartlidge & Browne brand and inventory.

Cartlidge & Browne pinot noir (suggested retail $15) was recognized by USA Today recently for being a hot wine buy under $20.

“It add another level of business for us,” said Pat Roney of Vintage Wine Estates. “It adds different line of distributors nationwide to what we’re doing.”

The acquisition price wasn’t disclosed, but Mr. Roney said industry estimates of $4 million to $6 million for were “comfortable.”

Of the Cartlidge & Browne partners — Tony Cartlidge, winemaker Paul Moser and Bob Babbe — Mr. Cartlidge will be remaining involved with the brand, according to Mr. Roney.

The wine now will be made by Marty Peterson, winemaker at Vintage’s Grove Street Winery in Healdsburg.

The brand had been produced by Sonoma Wine Co. since it acquired Greenfield Wine Co.’s custom wine business and the lease for the 116,500-square-foot winery at 205 Jim Oswalt Way in the Green Island Industrial Park. Mr. Cartlidge and Glenn Browne started the brand in St. Helena in 1980. Mr. Cartlidge remains the owner of the building.

Vintage Wine Estates’ portfolio includes Girard, Grove Street, Sonoma Coast Vineyards, Fire Station Red, Windsor Sonoma, Windsor Vineyards, International Wine Accessories, StoneFly Vineyards and Cosentino Winery.

At the end of last year, Vintage acquired the shuttered Cosentino operation in Yountville.