Benziger Winery sold to The Wine Group

Benziger Family Winery in Sonoma has been sold to The Wine Group in a deal that closed on Monday for an undisclosed sum.

Mike Benziger

Included in the sale were the Benziger and Imagery brands, the family’s 85-acre Glen Ellen ranch, two winemaking facilities in Sonoma Valley, current inventory and roughly 160 acres of vines. While the price of the sale was not disclosed, it has been estimated at standing between $70 million to $80 million.

Founded in 1981, The Benziger Family Winery is located on a biodynamically-certified 85-acre estate in Sonoma, with six vineyards across Sonoma Valley, Sonoma Coast, Russian River Valley, Sonoma Mountain and Pine Mountain-Cloverdale Peak AVAs. Earlier this year its founder and CEO Mike Benziger was named Green Personality of the Year at the Drinks Business 2015 Green Awards.

Confirming its sale on Monday, Benziger said he was confident that its new owner share his values of biodynamics and green-farming practices.

“With the knowledge that we’re selling the winery to a privately held company that shares our values, now is the perfect time for me to pursue other passions”, he said. “We are certain that The Wine Group will carry on the Benziger family’s legacy of quality.”

The Wine Group, based in Livermore in California, is best-known for its supermarket wine brands which include Almaden and Cupcake, with its latest acquisition a marked effort to move into the super-premium wine category. The Glen Ellen brand, which the Benziger family launched in 1981, has been owned by The Wine Group since 2002.

“We look forward to continuing to build on Benziger’s reputation as a producer of some of Sonoma County’s best wines while providing visitors with an unrivalled experience at the beautiful and unique Sonoma properties”, Brian Vos, CEO of The Wine Group said in a statement released yesterday.

“As we continue to move into the Super-Premium category, we have been thoughtful in our search for a winery that produces exceptional wines while sharing our values of integrity, social responsibility, and innovation. The Benziger family is not only celebrated for its outstanding wine quality, but their strong team will be a great cultural fit within The Wine Group.”

While Mike Benziger appears to be stepping back from the winery his brother, Chris Benziger, will assume the role of VP Trade Relations at Benziger Family Winery, and Joe Benziger, also brother to Mike Benziger, will maintain his position as Imagery Winemaker. Mark Burningham, who has worked with the family for almost 30 years, will take over as GM of North Coast Operations. Other winery staff will also join The Wine Group.