North Bay Business Journal

William “Bill” Price III, co-founder of private investment company TPG Group and a financier of North Coast wineries such as Kosta Browne, purchased the 138-acre Gap’s Crown pinot noir and chardonnay vineyard in the Sonoma Coast appellation east of Rohnert Park.

NAPA — Paul Hobbs Winery today said it purchased the 90-acre Tourmaline Vineyard in the Coombsville winegrowing region east of Napa, making this the western Sonoma County winery’s first Napa Valley acquisition.

Part of the multibillion restructuring of hard-hit real estate investments over the past few years by the California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS) are potential changes to a joint venture with Premier Pacific Vineyards of Napa to acquire up to $200 million in West Coast vineyards. … Part of the $1 million-plus invested in production and distribution of the Napa Smith beer brand since it was acquired is a tasting room opened this month at the specially designed south Napa brewery-winery, located at 1 Executive Way. … St. Helena-based ETS Laboratories is now offering free same-day results on common analyses such as juice panels for San Joaquin County vintners. … As part of a mergers-and-acquisitions panel at the recent Wine Industry Financial Symposium in Napa, Jeff Menashe of Demeter Group observed four trends among active buyers of wine businesses and successful sellers.

NAPA VALLEY — Crushpad, which has been making wine for hobbyists and boutique vintners in a warehouse in San Francisco since it started in 2004, on Monday announced plans to relocate its winemaking functions to Silverado Trail Wine Studio in the Oak Knoll District of Napa Valley by early March.