North Bay Business Journal

2012 could bring more grape contracts, vineyard sales

Unless the global and U.S. economies weaken, wine industry experts predict 2012 could be the year of the vineyard, considering a number of fine wine producers have worked through ample inventories, wine sales continue to grow and few new vines are going into the ground.

Amorim buys south Napa land for expansion

In another expansion move by Portugal-based Amorim Group cork distributors in Napa Valley this year, Amorim Cork America purchased 3.36 acres of land between Devlin Road and Highway 29 just north of Napa Valley Gateway Business Park. Pedro Fernandes, general manager, declined to comment on plans for the property. Industry sources point to the property [...]

Q&A: Mario Zepponi: Wine M&A market remains focused on most solid assets

Mario Zepponi is one of three principals of Santa Rosa-based Zepponi & Company, which counsels wine industry clients on mergers and acquisitions as well as corporate strategy. His background as an attorney includes structuring lease and sale agreements. He was part of the Impact Napa conference panel on Sept. 1 and spoke on how well the wine business, particularly in Napa County, has weathered the global financial storm and the outlook for mergers-and-acquisitions activity. The Business Journal asked him about the impact of the economy on industry operations, valuations and deal prices.

Wine Conference to address M&A outlook, direct sales, new media

Increased wine mergers and acquisitions activity anticipated this year likely won’t be dominated by troubled-finance sales, according to one of the experts at the Business Journal wine business conference Thursday.

Will rebound by consumers alter wine M&A landscape?

There is much anticipation within both the wine industry and greater financial markets that 2011 will see a noticeable increase in dollars being spent both at the consumer level and in acquisition activity. In anticipation of such activity, it is appropriate to explore the widely varying motivations, expectations and investment time horizons of the five groups of historically active acquirers in the wine industry.

April 28 Journal wine conference to focus on M&A, sales

The business of making ultrapremium and luxury wine may be reaching a turning point after almost three years of heavy competition for consumer dollars.

Winery Exchange picks up Echelon

NOVATO — One of the results of Diageo Chateau & Estate Wines’ recent sales of wine assets is providing corporate alcoholic beverage brand creator Winery Exchange with a line of its own products.

Cash-positive, ‘marquee’ wine assets dominate industry M&A

North Coast “marquee” wine labels and cash-flowing brands and other assets are more dominant in the deals getting done these days than discount transactions on troubled assets, according to a top wine industry transaction adviser.

Impact Napa registration closes this week

NAPA — Registration closes Friday for the Business Journal’s annual Impact Napa Conference on Aug. 18 featuring a regional overview by highly sought-after economist Chris Thornberg as well as presentations from local experts on issues important to Napa businesses, including wine, tourism and the vitality of downtown Napa.

The event will be held Wednesday, Aug. 18 at the Meritage Resort in Napa. Registration begins at 7:30 a.m., and the program runs from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Tickets are $45 per person or $450 for a table of 10 (with company name on sign). To register, contact Linda Perkins at 707-521-5264 or events@busjrnl.com by Aug. 13, or go to www.NorthBayBusinessJournal.com.

Impact Napa conference to feature economist Thornberg

NAPA — The Business Journal will host its annual Impact Napa Conference on Aug. 18 featuring a regional overview by highly sought-after economist Chris Thornberg as well as presentations from local experts on issues important to Napa businesses, including wine, tourism and the vitality of downtown Napa.

The event will be held Wednesday, Aug. 18 at the Meritage Resort in Napa. Registration begins at 7:30 a.m., and the program runs from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Tickets are $45 per person or $450 for a table of 10 (with company name on sign). To register, contact Linda Perkins at 707-521-5264 or events@busjrnl.com by Aug. 13, or go to www.NorthBayBusinessJournal.com.

Oxbow founder, winery expert at Imapct Napa event

NORTH BAY – Steve Carlin, founder and chief executive officer of Oxbow Public Market, and Mario Zepponi, winery and investment broker at Zepponi & Company, will be among the presenters at the North Bay Business Journal’s Impact Napa conference on Wednesday, Aug. 18 at the Meritage Resort in Napa.

Black Stallion purchased

NAPA – Delicato Family Vineyards purchased family-owned Black Stallion Winery in the Napa Valley.

Guest Contributors: Measuring brand value in today’s market

There are two primary drivers of value in a winery sales transaction – the value of the real estate and improvements, and the value of the brand and associated inventory. Some of the more notable wine industry transactions demonstrate that a successful brand can achieve stunning financial returns, even where the selling winery may have owned little to no real estate.

Veteran advisers form wine M&A firm

SANTA ROSA – Winery and vineyard investment broker Mario Zepponi, bulk wine and grape brokerage founder Joe Ciatti and Matt Franklin, who helped start a major Napa CPA firm and more recently led a wine business mergers-and-acquisitions firm in San Francisco, have formed a wine industry transaction advisory firm called Zeppponi & Company.