Company History
Our company has been a leader in the wine industry for more than 60
years. Founded in 1945 by Marvin Sands, Constellation Wines U.S. represents the U.S. wine and
spirits business of Constellation Brands. Today, we are the world’s largest wine business by
dollar volume and we are the leading premium plus wine supplier in the United States. Here is an
overview of our company’s history:
1945: CANANDAIGUA INDUSTRIES COMPANY FOUNDED
In December 1945, at the age of 21, Marvin Sands formed Canandaigua Industries Company. With only eight employees, his strategy was to sell bulk wine in barrels to bottlers in the East. In its first year, the company sold approximately 200,000 gallons of wine and recorded gross sales of $150,000.
1948: MOTHER VINEYARD & ONSLOW WINE COMPANY PURCHASED
Canandaigua Industries acquired the Mother Vineyard Company and Onslow Wine Company. Both wineries were located in North Carolina and each produced Scuppernong Wine, a popular varietal wine produced from popular indigenous Southern grapes.
1951: RICHARDS WINE CELLARS CREATED
Richard’s Wine Cellars opened in Petersburg, Virginia and Marvin’s father, Mack Sands, led operations.
1954: COMPANY LAUNCHES RICHARDS WILD IRISH ROSE
The company grew significantly with the launch of Richards Wild Irish Rose in 1954. Aunique franchising system involving bottling in five locations throughout the U.S. allowed the brand to grow rapidly with minimal capital investment while the company developed its own facilities needed meet the explosive demand for Richards Wild Irish Rose.
1965: TENNER BROTHERS ACQUIRED
Tenner Brothers Winery in South Carolina was purchased and the Virginia Dare label was added on a royalty basis in 1965.
1969: HAMMONDSPORT WINE COMPANY ACQUIRED
The Hammondsport Wine Company was added to the growing list of company facilities, giving Canandaigua Industries a foothold in the sparkling wine market.
1972: COMPANY NAME CHANGES; EASTERN WINE COMPANY ACQUIRED
On December 4, 1972, Canandaigua Industries changed its name to Canandaigua Wine Company, Inc. That same year, the company purchased the New York-based Eastern Wine Company and its famous wine label, Chateau Martin, joined the company’s growing portfolio of brands.
1972: COMPANY GOES PUBLIC
Shortly after the company name change, Canandaigua Wine became a publicly-traded company.
1974: BISCEGLIA WINE COMPANY ACQUIRED
The Canandaigua Wine Company expanded west with the purchase of the Bisceglia Brothers Winery in Madera, California.
1979: J. ROGET CHAMPAGNE LAUNCHED
The company’s J. Roget brand became the second largest-selling champagne brand in America in 1979.
1982: BATAVIA WINE CELLARS ACQUIRED
Robin Fils et Cie was purchased and renamed Batavia Wine Cellars. The facility produced sparkling wine brands, including private label champagne, and handled the distribution of several brands produced at Canandaigua, including Cool Breeze and Chateau Martin.
1984: SUN COUNTRY COOLERS CREATED
Sun Country Coolers was launched nationwide, representing the company’s biggest achievement to date. Employees rallied together to set a record -- one million cases produced within the first six months.
1987: WIDMER WINE CELLARS AND MANISCHEWITZ WINE COMPANY ACQUIRED
Widmer Wine Cellars in Naples, New York and the Manischewitz brand of kosher wines (then belonging to the Monarch Wine Company in Brooklyn), were purchased in 1987. Production of the Manischewitz brand moved to Widmer along with a number of wines formerly produced at the Taylor Wine Company in nearby Hammondsport, New York.
1988: MARCUS JAMES BRAND BEGINS IMPORTING FROM BRAZIL
Production of company’s Marcus James wines moved to the Vale Aurora region of Brazil.
1990: ITALIAN SWISS COLONY DESSERT WINE & JACQUES BONET ADDED TO THE PORTFOLIO
Italian Swiss Colony dessert wines, including the Jacques Bonet line of sparkling wines, were purchased.
1991: GUILD WINERIES AND DISTILLERIES, INC. OFLODI, CALIFORNIA PURCHASED
The company purchased Guild Wineries, a grower-owned and managed cooperative located in Lodi, California. The acquisition added popular brands such as Cook’s, Dunnewood, and Cribari to the company portfolio and marked entry into the California wine market.
1993: VINTNERS INTERNATIONAL ACQUIRED
As a result of the Vintners International acquisition, the company acquired Taylor California Cellars and Paul Masson. (At the same time, the Barton acquisition enabled the company to begin diversifying, adding beer and distilled spirits to the portfolio which today belongs to Constellation Brands, Inc.)
1994: ALMADEN AND INGLENOOK ACQUIRED WITH PURCHASE OFMISSION BELL WINERY
Canandaigua Wine purchased Mission Bell Winery from Heublein, acquiring the Almaden and Inglenook wine brands, along with a successful grape juice concentrate business.
1997: CANANDAIGUA BRANDS CREATED AS PARENT COMPANY
Canandaigua Brands was formed to become the parent company of Canandaigua Wine Company
1998: ARBOR MIST LAUNCHED
The company launched Arbor Mist, a first of its kind wine with fruit brand. The nationwide launch introduced a new wine category to the entire wine industry. Over 1 million cases were produced in the first 100 days of distribution.
1999: COMPANY ACQUIRED SIMI WINERY AND FRANCISCAN VINEYARDS
With the acquisition of Simi Winery and Franciscan Vineyards, the company’s portfolio grew to include fine wine brands like Estancia, Franciscan, Mount Veeder, and Simi Winery.
2000: PARENT COMPANY NAME CHANGED
Canandaigua Brands changed its name to Constellation Brands, Inc.
2001: TURNER ROAD VINTNERS, CORUS BRANDS INC. AND RAVENSWOOD ACQUIRED; PACIFIC WINE PARTNERS FORMED AND BLACKSTONE WINERY ADDED
With the purchase of Turner Road Vintners wineries in Woodbridge, California, the Canandaigua Wine Company acquired the Heritage, La Terre, Nathanson Creek, Talus, and Vendange brands. That same year, the company’s strategic presence in the Pacific Northwest expanded when Covey Run and the fast-growing Australian import, Alice White, were acquired from Corus Brands, Inc. along with the Columbia Winery brand.
2003: BRL HARDY ACQUISITION TURNS CONSTELLATION INTO WORLD'S LARGEST WINE COMPANY
Constellation’s 2003 acquisition of BRLHardy Limited, Australia’s largest wine producer, accelerated growth and increased overall sales to $3.2 billion annually, making Constellation the world’s largest wine company with $1.7 billion in wine sales.
2004: CONSTELLATION WINES U.S. FORMED
Constellation Wines U.S. (CWUS) was formed, originally consisting of three independent sales and marketing companies: Canandaigua Wine Company, Pacific Wine Partners and North Lake Wines. Each company is supported by shared services includ- ing West Coast operations, channel management, legal, human resources and finance. (In 2006, Icon Estates joined CWUSas the fourth sales and marketing company. That year, the Canandaigua Wine Company was also renamed Centerra Wine Company).
2004: CONSTELLATION ACQUIRED ROBERT MONDAVI CORPORATION
Constellation acquired The Robert Mondavi Corp. for $1.03 billion and became the largest supplier of premium wines in the United States. Brands like Woodbridge by Robert Mondavi, Robert Mondavi Private Selection and Papio brands were added to the Canandaigua Wine portfolio.
2005: CONSTELLATION COMPLETES REX GOLIATH ACQUISITION
On October 17, the company acquired the Rex Goliath brand, which today is marketed and sold by Pacific Wine Partners.
2006: CONSTELLATION WINES U.S. RESTRUCTURES
Icon Estates was added to the Constellation Wines U.S. portfolio as an independent sales and marketing company, responsible for its own sales, marketing and production. Canandaigua Wine Company changed its name to Centerra Wine Company.
2006: VINCOR ACQUISITION ENHANCES CWUS ORGANIZATION
On June 5, Constellation Brands, Inc. acquired Vincor, Canada’s premier wine company. As a result, CWUS assumed responsibility for Vincor USA wineries, including R.H. Phillips in Esparto, California and Hogue Cellars in Prosser, Washington. Brands such as Toasted Head, R.H. Phillips, Hogue Cellars, Kim Crawford (New Zealand), Kumala (South Africa), Inniskillin and Jackson-Triggs ice wines were added to the CWUS portfolio to be marketed and sold by three of the four CWUS sales and marketing companies as well as the CWUS channel management group which focuses on national on- and off-premise strategic accounts.
2007: CONSTELLATION ACQUIRES FORTUNE BRANDS, INC. U.S. WINE BUSINESS
On December 17, 2007 Constellation Brands, Inc. completed the acquisition of the Fortune Brands, Inc. U.S. wine business. The acquisition added esteemed premium and fine wines into the Constellation Wines U.S. portfolio. The acquisition marked another significant step to expanding the CWUS portfolio of fine wine in the fast-growing super-premium and luxury segments of the U.S. market. VineOne is created as the premium plus division of CWUS.
2008: CONSTELLATION INCORPORATES SPIRITS BUSINESS
Constellation Wines North America portfolio is expanded to include the iconic SVEDKA vodka and Black Velvet Whiskey.
2009: CONSTELLATION WINES U.S. INTRODUCES NEW ORGANIZATIONAL DESIGN
CWUS announces its new organizational structure and the three operating companies (VineOne, Icon Estates and Centerra Wine Company) merge into a single organization - Constellation Wines U.S.
In December 1945, at the age of 21, Marvin Sands formed Canandaigua Industries Company. With only eight employees, his strategy was to sell bulk wine in barrels to bottlers in the East. In its first year, the company sold approximately 200,000 gallons of wine and recorded gross sales of $150,000.
1948: MOTHER VINEYARD & ONSLOW WINE COMPANY PURCHASED
Canandaigua Industries acquired the Mother Vineyard Company and Onslow Wine Company. Both wineries were located in North Carolina and each produced Scuppernong Wine, a popular varietal wine produced from popular indigenous Southern grapes.
1951: RICHARDS WINE CELLARS CREATED
Richard’s Wine Cellars opened in Petersburg, Virginia and Marvin’s father, Mack Sands, led operations.
1954: COMPANY LAUNCHES RICHARDS WILD IRISH ROSE
The company grew significantly with the launch of Richards Wild Irish Rose in 1954. Aunique franchising system involving bottling in five locations throughout the U.S. allowed the brand to grow rapidly with minimal capital investment while the company developed its own facilities needed meet the explosive demand for Richards Wild Irish Rose.
1965: TENNER BROTHERS ACQUIRED
Tenner Brothers Winery in South Carolina was purchased and the Virginia Dare label was added on a royalty basis in 1965.
1969: HAMMONDSPORT WINE COMPANY ACQUIRED
The Hammondsport Wine Company was added to the growing list of company facilities, giving Canandaigua Industries a foothold in the sparkling wine market.
1972: COMPANY NAME CHANGES; EASTERN WINE COMPANY ACQUIRED
On December 4, 1972, Canandaigua Industries changed its name to Canandaigua Wine Company, Inc. That same year, the company purchased the New York-based Eastern Wine Company and its famous wine label, Chateau Martin, joined the company’s growing portfolio of brands.
1972: COMPANY GOES PUBLIC
Shortly after the company name change, Canandaigua Wine became a publicly-traded company.
1974: BISCEGLIA WINE COMPANY ACQUIRED
The Canandaigua Wine Company expanded west with the purchase of the Bisceglia Brothers Winery in Madera, California.
1979: J. ROGET CHAMPAGNE LAUNCHED
The company’s J. Roget brand became the second largest-selling champagne brand in America in 1979.
1982: BATAVIA WINE CELLARS ACQUIRED
Robin Fils et Cie was purchased and renamed Batavia Wine Cellars. The facility produced sparkling wine brands, including private label champagne, and handled the distribution of several brands produced at Canandaigua, including Cool Breeze and Chateau Martin.
1984: SUN COUNTRY COOLERS CREATED
Sun Country Coolers was launched nationwide, representing the company’s biggest achievement to date. Employees rallied together to set a record -- one million cases produced within the first six months.
1987: WIDMER WINE CELLARS AND MANISCHEWITZ WINE COMPANY ACQUIRED
Widmer Wine Cellars in Naples, New York and the Manischewitz brand of kosher wines (then belonging to the Monarch Wine Company in Brooklyn), were purchased in 1987. Production of the Manischewitz brand moved to Widmer along with a number of wines formerly produced at the Taylor Wine Company in nearby Hammondsport, New York.
1988: MARCUS JAMES BRAND BEGINS IMPORTING FROM BRAZIL
Production of company’s Marcus James wines moved to the Vale Aurora region of Brazil.
1990: ITALIAN SWISS COLONY DESSERT WINE & JACQUES BONET ADDED TO THE PORTFOLIO
Italian Swiss Colony dessert wines, including the Jacques Bonet line of sparkling wines, were purchased.
1991: GUILD WINERIES AND DISTILLERIES, INC. OFLODI, CALIFORNIA PURCHASED
The company purchased Guild Wineries, a grower-owned and managed cooperative located in Lodi, California. The acquisition added popular brands such as Cook’s, Dunnewood, and Cribari to the company portfolio and marked entry into the California wine market.
1993: VINTNERS INTERNATIONAL ACQUIRED
As a result of the Vintners International acquisition, the company acquired Taylor California Cellars and Paul Masson. (At the same time, the Barton acquisition enabled the company to begin diversifying, adding beer and distilled spirits to the portfolio which today belongs to Constellation Brands, Inc.)
1994: ALMADEN AND INGLENOOK ACQUIRED WITH PURCHASE OFMISSION BELL WINERY
Canandaigua Wine purchased Mission Bell Winery from Heublein, acquiring the Almaden and Inglenook wine brands, along with a successful grape juice concentrate business.
1997: CANANDAIGUA BRANDS CREATED AS PARENT COMPANY
Canandaigua Brands was formed to become the parent company of Canandaigua Wine Company
1998: ARBOR MIST LAUNCHED
The company launched Arbor Mist, a first of its kind wine with fruit brand. The nationwide launch introduced a new wine category to the entire wine industry. Over 1 million cases were produced in the first 100 days of distribution.
1999: COMPANY ACQUIRED SIMI WINERY AND FRANCISCAN VINEYARDS
With the acquisition of Simi Winery and Franciscan Vineyards, the company’s portfolio grew to include fine wine brands like Estancia, Franciscan, Mount Veeder, and Simi Winery.
2000: PARENT COMPANY NAME CHANGED
Canandaigua Brands changed its name to Constellation Brands, Inc.
2001: TURNER ROAD VINTNERS, CORUS BRANDS INC. AND RAVENSWOOD ACQUIRED; PACIFIC WINE PARTNERS FORMED AND BLACKSTONE WINERY ADDED
With the purchase of Turner Road Vintners wineries in Woodbridge, California, the Canandaigua Wine Company acquired the Heritage, La Terre, Nathanson Creek, Talus, and Vendange brands. That same year, the company’s strategic presence in the Pacific Northwest expanded when Covey Run and the fast-growing Australian import, Alice White, were acquired from Corus Brands, Inc. along with the Columbia Winery brand.
2003: BRL HARDY ACQUISITION TURNS CONSTELLATION INTO WORLD'S LARGEST WINE COMPANY
Constellation’s 2003 acquisition of BRLHardy Limited, Australia’s largest wine producer, accelerated growth and increased overall sales to $3.2 billion annually, making Constellation the world’s largest wine company with $1.7 billion in wine sales.
2004: CONSTELLATION WINES U.S. FORMED
Constellation Wines U.S. (CWUS) was formed, originally consisting of three independent sales and marketing companies: Canandaigua Wine Company, Pacific Wine Partners and North Lake Wines. Each company is supported by shared services includ- ing West Coast operations, channel management, legal, human resources and finance. (In 2006, Icon Estates joined CWUSas the fourth sales and marketing company. That year, the Canandaigua Wine Company was also renamed Centerra Wine Company).
2004: CONSTELLATION ACQUIRED ROBERT MONDAVI CORPORATION
Constellation acquired The Robert Mondavi Corp. for $1.03 billion and became the largest supplier of premium wines in the United States. Brands like Woodbridge by Robert Mondavi, Robert Mondavi Private Selection and Papio brands were added to the Canandaigua Wine portfolio.
2005: CONSTELLATION COMPLETES REX GOLIATH ACQUISITION
On October 17, the company acquired the Rex Goliath brand, which today is marketed and sold by Pacific Wine Partners.
2006: CONSTELLATION WINES U.S. RESTRUCTURES
Icon Estates was added to the Constellation Wines U.S. portfolio as an independent sales and marketing company, responsible for its own sales, marketing and production. Canandaigua Wine Company changed its name to Centerra Wine Company.
2006: VINCOR ACQUISITION ENHANCES CWUS ORGANIZATION
On June 5, Constellation Brands, Inc. acquired Vincor, Canada’s premier wine company. As a result, CWUS assumed responsibility for Vincor USA wineries, including R.H. Phillips in Esparto, California and Hogue Cellars in Prosser, Washington. Brands such as Toasted Head, R.H. Phillips, Hogue Cellars, Kim Crawford (New Zealand), Kumala (South Africa), Inniskillin and Jackson-Triggs ice wines were added to the CWUS portfolio to be marketed and sold by three of the four CWUS sales and marketing companies as well as the CWUS channel management group which focuses on national on- and off-premise strategic accounts.
2007: CONSTELLATION ACQUIRES FORTUNE BRANDS, INC. U.S. WINE BUSINESS
On December 17, 2007 Constellation Brands, Inc. completed the acquisition of the Fortune Brands, Inc. U.S. wine business. The acquisition added esteemed premium and fine wines into the Constellation Wines U.S. portfolio. The acquisition marked another significant step to expanding the CWUS portfolio of fine wine in the fast-growing super-premium and luxury segments of the U.S. market. VineOne is created as the premium plus division of CWUS.
2008: CONSTELLATION INCORPORATES SPIRITS BUSINESS
Constellation Wines North America portfolio is expanded to include the iconic SVEDKA vodka and Black Velvet Whiskey.
2009: CONSTELLATION WINES U.S. INTRODUCES NEW ORGANIZATIONAL DESIGN
CWUS announces its new organizational structure and the three operating companies (VineOne, Icon Estates and Centerra Wine Company) merge into a single organization - Constellation Wines U.S.
©2009 CONSTELLATION WINES U.S. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. A CONSTELLATION BRANDS COMPANY
