Decanter World Wine AwardsConstellation sells Inglenook, Almaden and Paul Masson winery
- Wednesday 23 January 2008
The transaction, in which Constellation pockets US$134m (£69m), is expected to be finalised by the end of February. Constellation, based in New York, say the cash will be used to ‘reduce borrowings’.
All the assets sold are based in Madera, California, 142 miles south west of San Francisco, where The Wine Group has its headquarters.
If completed, the deal will reinforce the Wine Group’s position as one of the largest US wine producers, alongside Constellation and E&J Gallo.
It also remains one of the most secretive businesses in the industry, shunning publicity. In Wine Business survey of 2005, The Wine Group boss David Kent was asked to provide a statement.
‘One of the great benefits of being a privately held company is that the CEO is not required to provide forward-looking statements to competitors or the general public,’ Kent told the publication.
Almaden and Inglenook wines retail for under US$3 (£1.5) per bottle in the US.
Have your say!
Rafael Rodriguez
June 04 02:50
Like the mythologicalPhoenix, Inglenook has reincarneted! In 1965 Inglenook died a very painful dead. Almost half a cetury latter,like the Phoenix, has come alive thanks to a well crafted dream of a man that loves the earth.