North Bay Business Journal

GRATON — New York-based alcoholic beverage giant Constellation Brands (NYSE: STZ) today said it signed an agreement to buy the Mark West wine brand from Purple Wine Co., based in the west Sonoma County community of Graton, for about $160 million.

Constellation Wines U.S., the world’s largest wine producer, is making a big move forward this year with machine harvesting for higher-end wines.

SONOMA — Under new leadership and with a broader range of services, Groskopf Warehouse & Logistics has significantly expanded its customer base and plans a big boost to its storage capacity and markets served.

This report highlights 46 North Bay professionals in various fields who have been leading development and implementation of environmentally sustainable technologies, such as solar electric and geothermal energy, erosion control for better stream water quality and energy-efficient construction.

KENWOOD — Constellation Wines U.S. on Monday informed the 10 employees at the Blackstone winery and visitor’s center in Kenwood that it would be closed as of March 1 and possibly put up for sale, as production of Blackstone Sonoma Reserve wines has already relocated to Sonoma.

CALIFORNIA — Constellation Wines U.S., one of the world’s largest wine companies and operator of several North Coast wineries, undertook one of the largest such projects for the wine industry this year.

NORTH BAY — The Business Journal will honor 12 North Bay real estate projects and the key industry players who made them possible at its fifth-annual 2010 Top Projects Awards reception on Dec. 8. Continue reading to see the list of winning projects.

GEYSERVILLE — Constellation Wines U.S., one of the world’s largest wine companies and operator of several North Coast wineries, on Monday unveiled a solar-electricity project at four California wineries — including Clos du Bois and Ravenswood — expected to be one of the largest such projects for the wine industry when completed by the end of this year.

Also: Hall recognized for ‘excellence in sustainable winegrowing’

SAN FRANCISCO — Constellation Wines U.S., part of New York-based drinks conglomerate Constellation Brands, is bolstering its team responsible for luxury brands such as Robert Mondavi and Franciscan Estates with Pierre Noique in a newly created position as vice president of luxury wines and a new sales team devoted to such brands.