FDBusiness.com

Constellation Brands, the world leader in premium wine, is investing over $20 million in several of its California wineries and vineyard operations to expand its growing, crushing, fermenting, storing and bottling capacities. The investment is attributable to several factors, including the increased demand for the company’s brands and creating additional efficiencies with in-house and state-of-the-art technologies.

“The need for more land, fermenters, tanks and bottling lines is a direct result of the success of our brands,” says Jay Wright, president, Wine and Spirits Division, Constellation Brands. “We see a bright future for our California brands and are committed to ensuring that we can meet consumer demand as we fulfill our mission to build brands that people love.”  

The demand for additional capacity is driven by the success of Constellation’s strong premium portfolio which includes Rex Goliath, Black Box, Woodbridge by Robert Mondavi, Clos du Bois and Mark West wines.  All of these brands have experienced positive growth this year, according to industry sources.

While the projects are in various stages of completion, most are expected to be completed by the end of 2013. Collectively, the projects represent a greater than $20 million investment, which is a part of the company’s planned capital expenditures for the year.

In addition to being the world’s leader in premium wine, Constellation is also the number three beer company in the US. Its brands portfolio includes: Arbor Mist, Black Box, Blackstone, Clos du Bois, Estancia, Franciscan Estate, Inniskillin, Kim Crawford, Mark West,MountVeeder, Nobilo, Ravenswood, Rex Goliath, Robert Mondavi, Ruffino, SIMI, Toasted Head, Wild Horse, Corona Extra, Corona Light, Modelo Especial, Negra Modelo, Pacifico, Tsingtao, Victoria, Black Velvet Canadian Whisky and SVEDKA Vodka.