Big Wine Players Target Pinot Noir - Plenty of small winery owners are cashing out, either because they're looking to retire or they see selling as the best way to keep their label growing

Plenty of small winery owners are cashing out, either because they’re looking to retire or they see selling as the best way to keep their label growing

- By MItch Frank

When the going gets tough, the tough look for opportunities. That’s been the story of U.S. wine mergers and acquisitions in 2024. Sales by volume have declined for more than two years, dipping an estimated 1% in 2023, according to Impact Databank, a sister publication of Wine Spectator. Plenty of small winery owners are cashing out, either because they’re looking to retire or they see selling as the best way to keep their label growing

Large players such as Gallo Family, Constellation and Treasury Wine Estates scooped up wineries including Rombauer and Daou in notable deals last year. And as the buying spree continues, Pinot Noir appears to be on the menu. Several larger companies have bought premium Pinot Noir producers in recent months.

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