Constellation buys luxury wine labels

Constellation Brands is set to acquire a stable of five fast-growing luxury wine labels, operating under The Prisoner Wine Company banner, for an estimated US$285m.

The deal with previous owner Huneeus Vintners, which does not include any vineyards or winemaking facilities, covers brands including The Prisoner, Saldo, Cuttings, Blindfold and Thorn, all of them based in California.

The Prisoner is a field blend of Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Petite Sirah and Charbono (aka Bonarda), while Saldo is a ‘super-luxury’ Zinfandel, and Blindfold a similarly priced white blend. The five brands sold a combined 175,000 cases of wine in 2015, with volumes growing at an annual rate of 30% over the past three years.