WBM REVIEW OF THE INDUSTRY
50 LARGEST WINERIES
3.
Constellation Brands
Chris Stenzel, Executive Vice President and President, Wine + Spirits Division ANNUAL U.S. CASE SALES VOLUME: EMPLOYEES:
50 million (WBM Estimate)
6,000 globally
Constellation Brands is constantly evolving and innovating, extending its position in wine, beer and spirits. This year the company even made an investment in cannabis. The company is focused on major growth segments—sparkling wine is one of them. This year, the fine wine division forged a partnership with Champagne Palmer & Co. Constellation’s TRU Estates and Vineyards division will serve as the Champagne brand’s importer in the U.S. Separately, Constellation added capacity for Ruffino, acquiring three vineyards in Italy’s Veneto region to expand Prosecco production for a reported $34 million. Constellation opened The Prisoner Wine Company tasting room in Napa Valley in November 2018. The new Tasting Lounge and The Makery—a private tasting space comprised of four studios, each featuring a local maker and his or her craft—is a destination for immersive wine education and experiences. Constellation purchased Napa Valley cult winery Schrader Cellars in 2017. This year, Double Diamond wines were launched under Schrader with Thomas Brown as the winemaker. There’s a Double Diamond Bomber X Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley and a Double Diamond Amber Knolls Cabernet Sauvignon from Red Hills Lake County. Another new launch from Constellation is its Cooper and Thief bourbon barrel-aged red wine blend and most recently, the Cooper and Thief Sauvignon Blanc, which is aged in tequila barrels, and the 2015 Cooper & Thief Cabernet Sauvignon, which is aged for six months in ex-High West Distillery Rye Whiskey Barrels.
38 February 2019 WBM
Constellation is also launching Estancia in the 3-liter box category, the only appellated wine available in box. Constellation Brands and Columbia Distributing announced an expanded partnership in Washington and Oregon this year. Opici Family Distributing of New Jersey also announced an expanded relationship with Constellation this year. Constellation’s corporate venture capital group intends to invest $100 million in female-founded or female-led businesses in the beverage alcohol space and adjacent categories by 2028 through a new program, Focus on Female Founders. The company completed its first investments in two specialty beverage companies: Austin Cocktails and Vivify Beverages. Chris Stenzel is Constellation’s executive vice president and president of the Wine + Spirits Division, reporting to Bill Newlands. Stenzel oversees global sales, marketing and operations functions for the Wine + Spirits Division across the U.S., New Zealand and emerging markets. Chief operating officer Bill Newlands was named president of Constellation this year, succeeding CEO Rob Sands, who relinquished his role as president. Jim Sabia was named to the newly created role of executive vice president and chief marketing officer, Constellation Brands, this year. Sabia is the marketing lead for the Beer and Wine & Spirits Divisions, responsible for marketing across Constellation’s entire alcoholic beverage portfolio. In October, Reuters reported that Constellation is considering the sale of some of its U.S.-based wine brands in a deal sources speculated could be worth more than $3 billion. The report said Constellation hired Goldman Sachs to explore the divestitures.