The Wine Group

The Wine Group (TWG) is a global leader in the wine industry and is the world's 2nd largest wine producer[1] by volume with 53 million cases annually.[2] Founded in 1981, TWG is a management-owned organization consisting of vineyards, wineries, bottling and production facilities throughout California – as well as in New York and Australia.

Brands

The Wine Group produces over 100 brands including: Franzia, Cupcake, Cupcake LightHearted, 7 Deadly, Chloe, Imagery, Benziger, AVA Grace, Tribute and many others.

Management

As of 2020, key management includes:[3]

Cate Hardy, Chief Executive Officer

John Sutton, Chief Financial Officer

Jeff Dubiel, Chief Marketing Officer

Brott Ritzel, Chief Operating Officer

Jim Evans, Chief Sales Officer

Keith Bauman, Chief Legal and Human Resources Officer

History

The TWG story began in Ripon, California back in 1906 when a young Italian immigrant couple, purchased 80 acres of land and planted their first vineyard. Giuseppe and Teresa Franzia, sold their grapes and shipped them by train to customers in Chicago and the East Coast. At the same time, they were also growing their family – five sons and two daughters. As one of California Central Valley’s most successful growers, the Franzia’s were also doing a fair amount of socializing. Prominent people of the day, including A.P. Giannis, founder of the Bank of Italy, later the Bank of America, would stop by and enjoy Teresa’s homemade pastas paired with Giuseppe’s wines.

Then Prohibition hit. The frustration took its toll on Giuseppe and this period found him spending six months of every year in Italy. Meanwhile, Teresa kept busy. Recognizing opportunity, as soon as prohibition was repealed, she jumped in her horse-drawn carriage, went to San Francisco, met with A.P. Giannis, secured a $60,000 loan against the family vineyards, and started the Franzia Brothers Winery.[4]

In 1973, the Franzia Brothers sold their winery to Coca-Cola Bottling of New York, which also owned the Mogen David Wine Company. The company hired Art Ciocca as the CEO of their new wine division. By the summer of 1981, Coca-Cola Bottling was ready to sell, and sensing opportunity again, Art and six of his employee-partners, formed The Wine Group and purchased the assets, including Franzia, Mogen David and Tribuno Vermouth.

With the sale, The Wine Group lost the purchasing power of Coca-Cola, and its volume discount for glass, which made it impossible to compete against larger volume wineries. So, with that same entrepreneurial spirit that they were founded on, The Wine Group gambled on new packaging, the bag-in- box, and today, Franzia Box Wine is one of the most popular wines in the world![5]

In 2002, Concannon Winery joined The Wine Group portfolio.[6] With a rich history dating back to 1883, Concannon’s leadership in establishing Cabernet Sauvignon in California, was a perfect fit as The Wine Group moved into the premium wine market. TWG’s expansion into premium wine continued with the 2014 launch of Chloe Wine Collection, and again in 2015, acquiring Sonoma Valley’s Benziger Family Winery.[7]

TWG’s success has endured with a series of strong brand launches, acquisitions, and category creations. Ava Grace, Imagery, and Tribute are their most recent launches, while the brands Beso del Sol and 7 Deadly their latest acquisitions. But, the most profound addition to TWG's portfolio is Cupcake LightHearted - one of the industry’s first lower calorie, lower alcohol wine options.

See also

References
  1. "PCC Markets CEO Cate Hardy leaving to run huge wine company". Seattle Times.
  2. Quackenbush, Jeff (April 17, 2018). "The Wine Group CEO talks expansion to 'premium-plus' brands to reach millennials". North Bay Business Journal. Retrieved January 4, 2021.
  3. "Our Leadership". The Wine Group. Retrieved January 4, 2021.
  4. "Franzia History".
  5. Cranston, Emma (December 18, 2020). "These Are The 30 Most Popular Wine Brands in America". Vine Pair.
  6. "The Wine Group buys Concannon Vineyard". San Francisco Business Journal. August 30, 2002.
  7. Fish, Tim (June 9, 2015). "The Wine Group buys Sonoma's Benziger Winery". Wine Spectator.
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