E. & J. Gallo Winery Announces Purchase of Columbia Winery and Covey Run Wine Brands

MODESTO, Calif., June 4, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- E. & J. Gallo Winery (Gallo) announced today the purchase of Washington's Columbia Winery and Covey Run Wine brands from Ascentia Wine Estates.  Gallo has purchased the two wine brands and taken over the operation of the Woodinville and Sunnyside facilities. The purchase marks Gallo's first expansion into the state.  No price was given.

According to Roger Nabedian, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Gallo's Premium Wine Division, "We have been watching the Washington wine industry grow for a number of years and consider these wine brands to be a key part of our premium wine strategy moving forward.  This purchase will help us expand our footprint and offer our customers wines from the Columbia Valley and Yakima Valley Appellations." 

Washington is America's second largest wine-producing state, after California, with 650 wineries and more than 36,000 acres of vineyards.  It produces a wide variety of premium wines from more than 30 leading varietal types and is comprised of 11 distinct winegrowing regions.

Demeter Group, a San Francisco-based investment bank for consumer retail companies, acted as Ascentia's exclusive financial advisor.  

About E.&J. Gallo Winery
Established in 1933 in Modesto, California, by Ernest and Julio Gallo, E. & J. Gallo Winery has become the world's largest winery and the foremost winery in the art of grape growing, winemaking, distribution and marketing of wines. With seven wineries strategically located in California's wine regions and access to grapes from vineyards in all of the premier grape-growing areas of the state, Gallo produces wines in every category, to suit every taste.  Gallo imports wines from eight of the major wine growing countries in the world.  Some of the brands in Gallo's wine portfolio include Gallo Family Vineyards, Barefoot Cellars, Louis M. Martini, MacMurray Ranch, Bridlewood, Mirassou Vineyards, Frei Brothers, DaVinci, Martin Codax, Don Miguel Gascon, Ecco Domani, McWilliam's Hanwood Estate, and William Hill Estate.  Recently, the Winery has expanded its portfolio to include distilled spirits with the introduction of New Amsterdam Gin and Familia Camarena Tequila.

SOURCE E. & J. Gallo Winery