SANTA ROSA -- Vintage Wine Estates added to its portfolio of wine brands in the North Coast and elsewhere with the acquisition of Napa-based Canopy Management Wine Company, which started as a producer of wines oriented toward women and has has developed a large social network of consumers.
The purchase includes licensing and trademarks related to brands Middle Sister, Monogamy, PromisQous, Purple Cowboy, Cowgirl Sisterhood, Wine Sisterhood, Deep Purple, Girl & Dragon, Lady La Femme, Good Daughter, Haute Wines and Whiskey Sister.
Financial terms were not disclosed.
“The acquisition fills a vital strategic role within the Vintage family of prestige wines.” said Pat Roney, President of Vintage Wine Estates. “Canopy’s powerhouse lifestyle brands, sales, marketing and social media expertise and strong retail partner and distributor relationships add tremendous value to our portfolio.”
Terry Wheatley and Brian Wurtz started Canopy Management in 2008. It produces a portfolio of popular, award-winning, nationally distributed wines including . In addition, the company has built one of the wine industry’s top social media networks, Wine Sisterhood, said to have close to a half-million fans.
This is just the latest acquisition by Vintage Wine Estates. In August, the company purchased Clos Pegase, which included the 25,000-case winery near Calistoga, 215 acres of vineyards, the brand and inventory.
Just two months later, Vintage purchased Viansa Winery & Italian Marketplace in Sonoma. The purchase included the winery and hospitality facility, the brand and inventory, plus the 168-acre property, which includes wetlands and 14 acres of vineyards.
Terry Wheatley, founder and chief marketing officer, joins Vintage Wine Estates as executive vice president for sales and wholesale marketing. Brian Wurtz, president, initially will oversee the orderly transition of wine supply, distributors, exporters and customers during the consolidation.
“I am extremely happy that the Canopy brands will now be a part of the VWE portfolio as they enter into the next phase of growth.” said Mr. Wurtz. “I’m proud to see the company that Terry, I and our team have built from the ground up move into an exciting new phase. I am looking forward to helping facilitate the transition process.”
Nancy Walker has been appointed head winemaker for the new endeavor, as part of the Vintage Wine Estates winemaking team headed by Marco DiGiulio, and will take over all sourcing and winemaking for the Canopy portfolio of wines. Nancy has a distinguished 20-plus year career in winemaking, having worked as winemaker for Vintage Wine Estates, Grove Street Winery, The Winery Exchange, Fetzer Vineyards and her own cult wine Stephen & Walker.
Privately owned Vintage Wine Estates is based in Santa Rosa. In addition to this new purchase, the Vintage Wine Estates portfolio also includes Girard Winery, Cosentino Winery, Windsor Vineyards, Sonoma Coast Vineyards, Cartlidge & Browne Winery and Ray’s Station.
