The Wine Group
Encyclopedia
The Wine Group, known for its Franzia
"wine in a box," is the United State's third-largest wine company, by volume, behind Constellation Brands
and the E&J Gallo Winery. The company was founded in 1981 with a management buyout of the wine assets of Coca-Cola Bottling Co. of New York (now part of Coca-Cola Enterprises
). Its origins are in the Franzia Brothers winery in California, which had been sold to the bottler. Key personnel as of 2005 were Chairman Art Ciocca, CEO David Kent, COO Ken Lizar and VP Treasurer/Controller David Johnson. Administrative offices are based in Livermore, California
.
(kosher), Morassutti (Italian) and Tribuno. Several premium wine-producing ventures in Chile, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand have recently become operational. Subsidiaries include Golden State Vintners and Underdog Wine Merchants.
In September 2006, TWG signed a strategic partnership with GCF Groupe (the world's No. 4 wine producer) to further its products in Europe. It also acquired the Cardinal Zin and Big House brands from Bonny Doon Vineyard
. In January 2008, TWG announced that it would purchase Almaden Vineyards
, Inglenook Winery
and the Paul Masson Winery in Madera, California
from Constellation Brands for $134 million in cash.
in Sacramento, California.
Franzia
Franzia is a brand of wine produced by The Wine Group, known for its box wines sold in 3 and 5-liter cartons. Franzia wines are quite inexpensive, making it well known and popular among college students in the United States. Flavors include White Wine Chardonnay and Red Sangria...
"wine in a box," is the United State's third-largest wine company, by volume, behind Constellation Brands
Constellation Brands
Constellation Brands, Inc., headquartered in Victor, New York, is the world’s leading wine company with a broad portfolio of widely admired premium brands across the wine, beer and spirits categories.-History and description:...
and the E&J Gallo Winery. The company was founded in 1981 with a management buyout of the wine assets of Coca-Cola Bottling Co. of New York (now part of Coca-Cola Enterprises
Coca-Cola Enterprises
Coca-Cola Enterprises is a marketer, producer, and distributor of Coca-Cola products. It is the anchor bottler for Western Europe, and was formerly the anchor bottler for most of North America....
). Its origins are in the Franzia Brothers winery in California, which had been sold to the bottler. Key personnel as of 2005 were Chairman Art Ciocca, CEO David Kent, COO Ken Lizar and VP Treasurer/Controller David Johnson. Administrative offices are based in Livermore, California
Livermore, California
Livermore is a city in Alameda County. The population as of 2010 was 80,968. Livermore is located on the eastern edge of California's San Francisco Bay Area....
.
Wine brands
In addition to Franzia, The Wine Group produces the Concannon brand of wines, as well as brands including Casarsa (an Italian wine), Corbett Canyon, Fish Eye, Foxhorn, Austin Vale, Glen Ellen, Mogen DavidMogen David
Mogen David is a company based in Westfield, New York, which makes wines, including the fortified wine MD 20/20. Mogen David is the Yiddish pronunciation of the Hebrew Magen David which directly means the shield of David, but in English it is more commonly referred to as the six-pointed Star of...
(kosher), Morassutti (Italian) and Tribuno. Several premium wine-producing ventures in Chile, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand have recently become operational. Subsidiaries include Golden State Vintners and Underdog Wine Merchants.
In September 2006, TWG signed a strategic partnership with GCF Groupe (the world's No. 4 wine producer) to further its products in Europe. It also acquired the Cardinal Zin and Big House brands from Bonny Doon Vineyard
Bonny Doon Vineyard
Bonny Doon Vineyard is a winery based in the Santa Cruz mountains of California. It was started by Randall Grahm in 1983. Bonny Doon was amongst the first Californian wineries to embrace Rhone varietals, giving Randall Grahm the nickname "The Rhone Ranger". The winery is known for its untraditional...
. In January 2008, TWG announced that it would purchase Almaden Vineyards
Almaden Vineyards
Almaden Vineyards is a winery located in Escalon and Madera, California. They claim to be California's oldest winery.Their original location was at the Old Almaden Winery south of San José between Los Gatos and Almaden...
, Inglenook Winery
Inglenook Winery
The Inglenook Winery produced estate bottled wines in Rutherford, California in the Napa Valley. The winery was founded in 1879 by a Finnish Sea Captain Gustave Niebaum. Niebaum died in 1908 and the winery was shut down during Prohibition...
and the Paul Masson Winery in Madera, California
Madera, California
Madera is a city in and the county seat of Madera County, California, United States. It is a principal city of the Madera–Chowchilla Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of Madera County, and Metropolitan Fresno. It is located in California's San Joaquin Valley. As of the 2010...
from Constellation Brands for $134 million in cash.
List of brands
- A Mano
- Albino Armano
- Almaden VineyardsAlmaden VineyardsAlmaden Vineyards is a winery located in Escalon and Madera, California. They claim to be California's oldest winery.Their original location was at the Old Almaden Winery south of San José between Los Gatos and Almaden...
- Casarsa
- Cupcake Vineyards
- Big House
- Boho Vineyard
- Brophy Clark
- Chateau Laroque
- Chockstone
- Concannon VineyardConcannon VineyardConcannon Vineyard is the second-largest winery in the Livermore Valley of California, producing around 30,000 cases annually. It is well known for its Petite Sirah and Concannon was the first winery to bottle this grape as a varietal wine in 1961. It also produces several other varieties of wine,...
- Corbett Canyon
- Darcie Kent
- FishEye Winery
- flipflop
- Foxhorn
- FranziaFranziaFranzia is a brand of wine produced by The Wine Group, known for its box wines sold in 3 and 5-liter cartons. Franzia wines are quite inexpensive, making it well known and popular among college students in the United States. Flavors include White Wine Chardonnay and Red Sangria...
- Glen Ellen
- Helfrich
- Herding Cats
- Inglenook WineryInglenook WineryThe Inglenook Winery produced estate bottled wines in Rutherford, California in the Napa Valley. The winery was founded in 1879 by a Finnish Sea Captain Gustave Niebaum. Niebaum died in 1908 and the winery was shut down during Prohibition...
- Italian Casarsa
- Kallfelz
- MG Vallejo
- Mogen DavidMogen DavidMogen David is a company based in Westfield, New York, which makes wines, including the fortified wine MD 20/20. Mogen David is the Yiddish pronunciation of the Hebrew Magen David which directly means the shield of David, but in English it is more commonly referred to as the six-pointed Star of...
- Montecillo
- Monthaven
- Morassutti
- Oak Leaf
- Paul Masson
- Pinot Evil
- Santa Ana
- Seven
- Silver Birch
- Tempra Tantrum
- Tribuno
Awards
The company was named Winery of the Year at the 2005 Unified Wine & Grape SymposiumUnified Wine & Grape Symposium
The Unified Wine & Grape Symposium is an annual wine and grape industry event, held every January in Sacramento, California, United States of America. Since 1995 the American Society for Enology and Viticulture and the California Association of Winegrape Growers have worked together to develop...
in Sacramento, California.