Our Selected Transactions & Projects
Constellation Brands, New York
$234 Million Sell-Side Advisory 2008
IWA served as advisors to and represented Constellation in their sale of certain California and Pacific Northwest wine assets to Ascentia Wine Estates. The assets included the sale of Geyser Peak, Buena Vista, Gary Farrell, Atlas Peak, XYZin in California; Columbia Winery and Covey Run in Washington and Ste. Chapelle in Idaho. This transaction resulted in the creation of a new wine company with annual sales of over 1 million cases. Constellation Brands is a leading international producer and marketer of beverage alcohol.
The Yalumba Wine Company, Australia
Sell-Side Advisory 2008
IWA served as advisors to and represented Yalumba in their sale of a Rutherford, Napa Valley vineyard to Longmeadow Ranch. Yalumba is Australia’s oldest family owned winery. Longmeadow Ranch is a privately held and well known Napa Valley winery.
Davis Bynum Winery, Healdsburg, California
Sell-Side Advisory 2007 & 2008
IWA served as the exclusive strategic advisor to Davis Bynum and initiated the sale of their brand to Klein Family Vintners in August, 2007. IWA also served as advisor and initiated the sale of the winery and vineyards to a private investor in March, 2008. Davis Bynum is a leading Russian River producer of Pinot Noir.
Chateau Potelle, Napa Valley, California
Sell-Side Advisory 2007
IWA acted as exclusive strategic and financial advisor to Chateau Potelle and initiated the sale of the winery and vineyard property to Jackson Family Farms. Chateau Potelle is a well respected Mount Veeder estate. Jackson Family Farms is a subsidiary of privately held Kendall-Jackson Vineyard Estates.
Hedin Vineyard, Healdsburg, California
Sell-Side Advisory 2007
IWA acted as exclusive advisor in the valuation and sale of the vineyard to Leslie Rudd. Hedin is a well known Russian River vineyard property. Leslie Rudd owns Rudd Estate, a leading Napa Valley Estate and this acquisition will be used as a Sonoma base for his company.
Havens Wine Cellars, Napa Valley, California
Sell-Side Advisory 2006
IWA acted as exclusive advisor to Havens in the valuation and sale of the winery and vineyard to Billington Imports. Havens is a leading producer of Napa Valley Syrah and Merlot. Billington is a wine importer and marketer.
Koves-Newlan Winery, Napa Valley, California
Sell-Side Advisory 2006
IWA acted as exclusive financial advisor to Koves-Newlan in initiating and completing the sale of the winery and vineyard to a private buyer. Koves-Newlan is a producer of Napa Valley wines.
Bonny Doon Vineyard, Santa Cruz, California
Sell-Side Advisory 2006
IWA served as exclusive and strategic financial advisor to Bonny Doon and provided a valuation of the entire company prior to initiating and managing the sale of the Big House and Cardinal Zin brands to The Wine Group. Bonny Doon is owned by Randall Graham and is one of California’s best known wine companies. The Wine Group is the third largest wine company in the USA.
Cline Cellars, Sonoma, California
Sell-Side Advisory 2005
IWA served as exclusive strategic financial advisors for Cline Cellars and initiated the sale of their Red Truck brand to 585 Wine Partners. Cline is a leading producer of Sonoma County wines. This transaction resulted in the creation of 585 Partners, a new US wine marketing company.
Campari, Milan, Italy
Financial Advisory 2005
IWA acted as exclusive financial advisors to Campari to evaluate a $100 million liquor brand acquisition. IWA initiated the discussions on behalf of Campari with the principals of the selling company, developed extensive financial valuation models for the acquisition and provided due diligence services to Campari.
Wild Horse Winery & Vineyards, Templeton, California
$34 Million Sell-Side Advisory 2003
IWA acted as financial advisors to Wild Horse in a plan to reduce debt. After completion of a valuation IWA initiated and managed a sale of the business to a subsidiary of Jim Beam (Fortune Brands). This was the second winery acquisition by Jim Beam that IWA had advised on.
Wells Fargo Business Credit, California
Financial Advisory Spring & Summer, 2003
IWA served as the exclusive, strategic wine industry advisor to Wells Fargo during the bankruptcy of DeLoach Vineyards. IWA evaluated the DeLoach bankruptcy work-out plans, prepared and implemented alternative work-out scenarios, valued the business, court testimony and wine industry benchmark data.
The Chalone Wine Group, California
Sell-Side Advisory 2002
IWA served as exclusive strategic advisor to Chalone and initiated and completed a sale of the Carmenet brand to Beringer. Chalone was one of the only publicly traded wine companies in the USA. Beringer is a subsidiary of Fosters.
The Hogue Cellars, Washington
$37 Million Sell-Side Advisory 2001
IWA served as exclusive financial advisors to Hogue and valued the company and then initiated and managed a sale of the company to Vincor of Canada. Hogue is the third largest wine company in Washington. Vincor is the largest wine company in Canada and this transaction was their second US winery acquisition.
Vina Ventisquero, Chile (Agrosuper)
Strategic Advisory 2002-2008
IWA is retained to structure joint ventures and establish global marketing and distribution for Vina Ventisquero. Agreements were signed with PLB, a leading UK distribution company (annual sales have developed to over 500,000 cases) and Click Wine Group in the USA (the Root:1 brand was developed and annual sales have grown to over 150,000 case). Agrosuper is Chile’s largest food group with annual sales of over $2 billion.
Cabonne Limited, Australia
Strategic Advisory 2000
IWA served as advisor to Cabonne in the location and negotiation of a joint venture agreement with Trinchero (Sutter Home) to create a jointly owned brand of Australian wines. Trinchero is one of California’s largest wine companies.
The Chalone Wine Group, California
Buy-Side Advisory & Financial Advisory 2000-2001
IWA acted as exclusive advisors to Chalone on a number of projects in 2000 & 2001. IWA was retained to locate a Napa Valley winery or vineyard and Chalone acquired the prestigious Hewitt vineyard in Rutherford. IWA also served as advisors to Chalone and their Washington partners in Canoe Ridge Vineyards to provide a valuation of the business, to assist Chalone in the buy-out of their local partners. Canoe Ridge is a leading ultra-premium Washington wine producer.
Masi Agricola, Italy
Strategic Advisory 1999-2001
IWA served as advisors to Masi in the development of their strategic and financial plan for a new project in Argentina. Masi is a leading producer of ultra-premium Italian wines and was developing a new vineyard and winery project in Argentina.
Jim Beam (Fortune Brands), USA
$98 Million Buy-Side Advisory 1998-2001
IWA acted as financial advisor to Jim Beam and provided strategic management and due diligence services in their acquisition of Geyser Peak Winery in California. Following the acquisition IWA continued to work with Beam on related issues. This was the first wine acquisition made by Jim Beam.
European Bank for Reconstruction & Development (EBRD), London
$61.5 Million Strategic Advisory 1998
IWA served as strategic advisor to EBRD to provide due diligence services and an assessment and review of the business plans submitted to the Bank by Domaine Boyar to provide $61.5 million of debt & equity financing with ING Barings. Domaine Boyar is Bulgaria’s largest wine company. EBRD was established in 1991 following the collapse of communism to aid in the transition to market economies.
Sonoma-Cutrer Vineyards, California
Sell-Side Advisory & Fairness Opinion 1998-1999
IWA acted as advisor to Sonoma-Cutrer in obtaining an additional competitive bid for the company and provided a fairness opinion on the lead offer from Brown-Forman. Sonoma-Cutrer is a well-known ultra-premium estate grown California Chardonnay producer and was sold to Brown-Forman.
Stellenbosch Farmers Winery, South Africa
Strategic Advisory 1998
IWA acted as advisor to SFW to conduct a global strategy review for the company. SFW is the largest producer of wines and spirits in South Africa and in 2001, SFW merged with Distillers Corporation, another leading South African wine and beverage company, to form Distell.
Mildara Blass (Fosters Brewing Group), Australia
Strategic Advisory 1996-1999
IWA served as strategic advisors to Mildara Blass to develop and implement a global growth strategy to produce wines in other New World countries. As Project Manager, IWA developed projects in the USA and Chile: a joint venture in Chile with Vina Santa Carolina and the start-up of winemaking operations in California. Mildara Blass, Australia’s fourth largest wine company, was acquired by Fosters in 1995.
Paragon Vineyard, California
Strategic Advisory 1996-2000
IWA acted as advisors to Paragon and initiated and negotiated a joint-venture with Southcorp Wines of Australia. A joint venture was established and IWA worked in a general management role to provide direction on financial, production, brand development and other marketing issues. Southcorp was Australia’s largest wine company.
Vina Errazuriz, Chile
Strategic Advisory 1995
IWA acted as advisor to Errazuriz in structuring their joint-venture with Robert Mondavi on the Caliterra business. Errazuriz is a well-known ultra-premium Chilean wine business and built a successful brand of Chilean wine with Robert Mondavi.
Charles Krug Winery, Napa Valley, California
Strategic Advisory 1995
IWA served as the strategic advisor to Charles Krug in re-staging the CK Mondavi brand. A five year strategic plan was developed for a brand re-launch (incl. product re-formulation, supply, re-positioning & re-packaging, marketing and sales, etc.). The CK Mondavi brand was re-launched in September, 1995. Charles Krug announced that sales of CK Mondavi had grown to 490,000 cases in 1996, an increase of over 225% from the previous year. Charles Krug is one of Napa Valley’s oldest wineries and is owned by the Peter Mondavi family.
Hinman Vineyards (owned by Chambers Corp.), Oregon
Strategic Advisory 1995
IWA served as advisors to Hinman in the preparation of a five year strategic plan with the management team. Hinman is an ultra-premium Oregon wine business.
Southcorp Holdings, Australia
Buy-Side Strategic Advisory 1993
IWA served as the strategic financial advisor to Southcorp and provided due diligence and financial analysis of the 25 leading USA winery targets for Southcorp’s strategy to expand into the US wine industry with a major acquisition. Southcorp is the owner of leading Australian wine producers: Penfolds, Lindemans, Wynns and others.
Heublein (a division of Diageo), California
Sell-Side Strategic Advisory 1992-1993
IWA served as advisors to Heublein and initiated and managed the sale of the historic Greystone Building in Napa Valley to The Culinary Institute of America and the Oakville Winery to Pelissa & Hale. Heublein is a subsidiary of Diageo, the largest beverage alcohol company in the world.
Bodegas AGE, Spain (Banco Banesto, Spain)
Strategic Advisory 1991-1993
IWA served as exclusive strategic advisor to Bodegas AGE on the development and implementation of international marketing strategies. Bodegas AGE is the second largest producer of Rioja wines and the IWA engagement started immediately following the company’s acquisition by Banco Banesto from Guiness (Diageo) and lasted for three years.
Vina San Pedro, Chile (Banco Banesto, Spain)
Financial & Strategic Advisory 1990-1993
IWA served as financial and strategic advisor to Vina San Pedro and provided a company valuation and initiated discussions with international strategic investors. IWA continued to serve as strategy advisor in product development, international initiatives and in the engagement of an international winemaking team. Vina San Pedro is Chile’s third largest winery and was the Chilean wine subsidiary of Banco Banesto, Spain’s largest bank.
