Foley Family Wines10300 Chalk Hill Rd., Healdsburg 95448, 707-657-4837, foleyfamilywines.comBiotechnologyFinanceHealth CareHospitality & TourismManufacturingReal EstateTechnologyWine
HEALDSBURG -- Started in 1996, Foley Family Wines now has 10 wineries producing nearly three dozen labels in the North Coast, Central Coast, Washington state and New Zealand. The most recent North Coast acquisition came in May, picking up 40 acres of vines and the 6,000-case-a-year Sawyer Cellars winery and tasting room, located between Rutherford and Oakville in Napa Valley.
The portfolio also includes Merus, Kuleto and Altvs in Napa Valley, Chalk Hill near Healdsburg, Sebastiani in Sonoma, Foley Estates in Santa Rita Hills, Lincourt Vineyards in Solvang, Three Rivers Winery in Walla Walla Valley, Firestone Vineyard in Santa Ynez Valley, Eos in Paso Robles and New Zealand wineries Vavasour and Clifford Bay.
A year ago, Mr. Foley formed a joint venture with Australia-based Wineinc, which produces the brands Gotham, Wine Men of Gotham, Stalking Horse, Rusty Gate, Mastermind and StepXStep.
Mr. Foley also is chairman of the board of directors for Fidelity National Inc. and executive chairman of Fidelity National Information Services.Vintage Wine Estates205 Concourse Blvd., Santa Rosa 95403,707-921-2600, vintagewineestates.com
SANTA ROSA -- Managing partner Pat Roney, veteran of top-executive wine and retail positions, and Leslie Rudd have acquired or taken a stake in several North Coast wine production facilities, brands and related companies in the past few years.
In July, Vintage Wine Estates acquired the former McDowell winery, annually capable of crushing 4,000 to 5,000 tons of grapes and bottling roughly 350,000 cases of wine, from Weibel Vineyards and Winery of Lodi. Vintage Wine Estates plans to eventually transition the bulk of production to Hopland.
The portfolio now includes Girard, Grove Street, Sonoma Coast Vineyards, Fire Station Red, Windsor Sonoma, Windsor Vineyards, StoneFly Vineyards, Cosentino Winery, Cartilidge & Browne, International Wine Accessories, Ray's Station, Acre, Geode and Horse’s Play, and, most recently, a large custom-crush winery in Hopland. Production topped a half-million cases last year.West Coast Wine Partners777 Madrone Rd., Glen Ellen 95442, 707-939-4500
Dan Zepponi and the Stewart family of British Columbia started West Coast Wine Partners in Napa two years ago. In August, the partnership acquired the Lake Sonoma Winery and Valley of the Moon Winery brands -- collectively producing about 45,000 cases a year -- and related assets from F. Korbel & Bros. for an undisclosed sum. The partnership also produces the Plume label in Napa Valley.
Mr. Zepponi comes from the family that co-founded ZD Winery in Napa Valley, and he went on to top executive posts in Mark Anthony Group's Canadian wine division and overseeing production and operations for Fosters Wine Estates, now Treasury Wine Estates. The Stewart family operates Quails' Gate Winery in the Okanagan Valley winegrowing region of British Columbia and have been growing grapes there since 1961.Wilson Artisan Wineries8015 Hwy. 128, Healdsburg 95448, 707-433-3303, sodarockwinery.com/wilson-artisan-wineries
HEALDSBURG -- Ken and Diane Wilson have been building a group of North Coast wineries, called Wilson Artisan Wineries, adding Pezzi King in Dry Creek Valley in March and Blackstone winery in Sonoma Valley in May. Blackstone was leased to Napa-based Naked Wines, a custom vintner that helps crowdfund its clients' projects.
The portfolio also includes Wilson Winery, Mazzocco-Sonoma and Pezzi King in Dry Creek Valley, Matrix in Russian River Valley, deLorimier and Soda Rock in Alexander Valley, Jaxon Keys in Mendocino County and Blackstone in Sonoma Valley.
Total case production exceeds 50,000 cases a year. The family owns 500 acres of mountain vineyards in Sonoma and Mendocino counties.
