VICTOR, N.Y. — Constellation Brands, a leading beverage alcohol company, announced the purchase of California winery Sea Smoke.
The acquisition further enhances the company’s higher-end wine focus and portfolio growth strategy with one of the preeminent Pinot Noir producers in the world.
Inspired by the profound beauty of the wines from Burgundy, the portfolio’s founder, Bob Davids, searched the globe for the finest plot of land to make world-class Pinot Noir, landing on a highly prized estate located in the Santa Rita Hills AVA of Santa Barbara County, California. This world-class vineyard and meticulous winemaking make it consistently one of the most highly rated and acclaimed Pinot Noir houses in the world.
“As we continue to pursue growth aligned with consumer-led premiumization trends through our higher-end brands of the Wine and Spirits business, we are excited to add Sea Smoke to our fine wine portfolio,” said Sam Glaetzer, Constellation Brands’ EVP and president, Wine & Spirits division. “Not only does Sea Smoke offer a uniquely acclaimed estate vineyard in the Santa Rita Hills AVA, its highly acclaimed wines also align with our target consumer preferences as they continue to shift to the higher end. We look forward to working with the Sea Smoke team to grow this exceptional winery while upholding its impeccable tradition of quality and customer experience.”
“We are extremely excited to collaborate with Constellation Brands as we begin writing a new chapter in the Sea Smoke story. They have the right team with the right resources and the expertise to help us grow and thrive in a highly competitive market,” said Victor Gallegos, VP/GM and director of winemaking, Sea Smoke. “It was clear early on that both Constellation Brands and Sea Smoke share an unwavering commitment to excellence, sustainability and strategic growth – qualities that will enable us to continue our mission to make some of the world’s great estate-grown wines.”
Sea Smoke joins Constellation’s Fine Wine & Craft Spirits portfolio, a collection of the most lauded wine and spirits brands, including Schrader Cellars, Lingua Franca, Booker Vineyard, To Kalon Vineyard Company, Mount Veeder Winery, Robert Mondavi Winery, The Prisoner Wine Company, High West Distillery and Casa Noble Tequila, among others.
This acquisition was made in conjunction with the anticipated divestment of some of Constellation’s non-core Wine & Spirits assets.
