Bacchus Capital Management Provides Growth Capital for Qupe

SAN FRANCISCO, March 8, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Bacchus Capital Management, LLC, a San Francisco-based investment firm focused on providing strategic capital and making private equity wine industry investments, has provided growth capital to Qupe, a leading California Central Coast wine producer.

"Qupe is at a critical point in its brand history and business evolution," stated Bob Lindquist, Founder and Winemaker of Qupe. "We have spent 30 years producing handcrafted Rhone varietals and Chardonnay from California's Central Coast. We are proud of the wines we have made and the reputation we have earned.  Working with the team at Bacchus will provide us with the working capital we need to expand our inventory, our production and our distribution so that we can continue our growth and build on our momentum."

"The financing for Qupe reflects the Bacchus Capital Management mission and the opportunity for us in the market today," stated Sam Bronfman II, Co-Founder of and Managing Partner of Bacchus. "There will always be a demand for super and ultra premium brands as well as unique products across the price spectrum. The opportunity to finance an innovator in the wine industry, a true visionary and one of the country's great wine-makers, is an ideal transaction for us and an exciting partnership to develop."

"In today's challenging financial climate, credit is very hard to come by and wineries are under extreme pressure. Bacchus has established a new model in the industry," commented Peter Kaufman, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Bacchus Capital Management. "Providing flexible financing as well as our operational and industry expertise is unique. We look forward to working with the team at Qupe."

"We are eager to leverage the strategic capital Bacchus is providing," commented Lindquist. "The Qupe wines are poised to reach an expanded market."

About Qupe

Qupe is dedicated to producing handcrafted Rhone varietals and Chardonnay from California's Central Coast. The company employs traditional winemaking techniques to make wines that are true to type and speak of their vineyard sources. The goal of Qupe is to make wines with impeccable balance that can be enjoyed in their youth, yet because of the good acidity from cool vineyard sites can also benefit from ageing. The winery is committed to sourcing grapes from some of the best and most prestigious vineyards in Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties. Qupe was founded by Bob Lindquist in 1982 and remains family-owned. For more information, visit www.qupe.com.

About Bacchus Capital Management

Bacchus Capital Management is an investment and advisory firm co-founded in 2007 by Sam Bronfman II, Peter S. Kaufman and Henry F. Owsley providing alternative financing and equity capital to United States wineries and wine businesses. Quinton Jay and Rob Rupe are the Managing Directors. Bronfman and Jay bring extensive wine industry experience through leadership positions at Seagram Chateau and Estates, Diageo, Artesa Winery and Vineyards, Etude, Quintessa and Bonny Doon Vineyard. Kaufman and Owsley are leading investment bankers specializing in credit analysis, valuation and restructuring. For more information, visit www.bacchuswinefund.com.

SOURCE Bacchus Capital Management, LLC