North Bay Business Journal

2012 was a big year for wine-related property and brand transactions, and expectations are that 2013 also will be busy.

At the Business Journal’s Wine Industry Conference on April 18, five of the most active players are set to be part of a panel discussion on what’s happening and the potential for more: Peter Byck of Winery Exchange, Dennis Carroll of Sonoma Wine Co. and Purple Wine Co., Bill Foley of Foley Family Wines, Pat Roney of Vintage Wine Estates and Jeff Wesselkamper of Jackson Family Wines.

Following the $160 million sale of its nearly 600,000-case-a-year Mark West pinot noir-focused brand to Constellation Brands, Graton-based Purple Wine Co. is back with the Cryptic zinfandel, petite sirah and cabernet sauvignon blend. …

Also new to the $15–$20 category is a release from Napa-based Hess Collection. …

Flash Wine Technologies is targeting smaller-scale flash détente wine processing services with a new company based at Kunde Estate Winery. …

PlupJack Group’s CADE Estate Winery appointed Danielle Cyrot winemaker. …

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.

Following are profiles of the top day-to-day leaders from the Business Journal’s lists of the largest independently owned wineries under 100,000 cases, published in March, and the largest wine companies, published in May.

Following are profiles of the top day-to-day leaders from the Business Journal’s lists of the largest independently owned wineries under 100,000 cases, published in March, and the largest wine companies, published in May.

Following are profiles of the top day-to-day leaders from the Business Journal’s lists of the largest independently owned wineries under 100,000 cases, published in March, and the largest wine companies, published in May.

What follows are brief introductions to the top leaders of independently owned wine companies from the Business Journal’s Independently Owned Wineries list, published in March, and the Wine Companies list, published in this issue.