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W.J. Deutsch & Sons become exclusive sales and marketing agents
and owners take equity stake in newly formed ascentia wine estates LLC.
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White Plains, NY – June 10, 2008 – W.J. Deutsch & Sons, Ltd, (Deutsch) a leading wine importer and marketer of award-winning wines from around the world including [yellow tail], Georges Duboeuf, and Kunde Estate Winery and Vineyards, announced today that owners Bill and Peter Deutsch have become significant investors in the newly formed Ascentia Wine Estates LLC. Ascentia Wine Estates consist of seven premium wine brands including Geyser Peak, Buena Vista, Gary Farrell, Atlas Peak, Ste. Chapelle, Covey Run and Columbia Winery. Deutsch will become the exclusive sales and marketing agents for the entire portfolio, immediately adding an estimated one million cases in sales to their current annual turnover. To achieve this, Deutsch will work closely with Jim DeBonis, the former COO of Beam Wine Estates, who has been named CEO of Ascentia Wine Estates LLC, and Peter Ekman, the former CEO of Wine.com, who will become Chief Sales and Marketing Officer.
“The Ascentia Wine Estates portfolio of renowned California, Washington State and Idaho properties is the ideal complement to our current range of award-winning producers,” explains Bill Deutsch, Founder and Chairman of W. J. Deutsch & Sons, Ltd. “The great success that we are experiencing with our signature estate from Sonoma, Kunde Estate Winery and Vineyards, encouraged us to look for additional North American producers. With the addition of these ultra-premium wine brands we are now able to provide our customers with a comprehensive portfolio of domestic and imported fine wine estates.”
A marketing-led company with a history of identifying and capitalizing on consumer-driven niches, Deutsch was particularly attracted to the Ascentia Wine Estates portfolio because it provides a number of strong growth opportunities in today’s wine market.
“Ascentia Wine Estates offer the ideal product solutions for a number of growing needs in the market,” comments Peter Deutsch, CEO of W.J. Deutsch & Sons, Ltd. “Riesling is clearly becoming a white wine of choice for the consumer, and Deutsch will now represent 15 – 20% of the total US Riesling production through Columbia, Covey Run and Ste Chapelle. A “sideways” glance at consumer trends shows us that Pinot Noir is a close second to Riesling in the growth category and Buena Vista and Gary Farrell offer a delectable half-a-dozen 90+ rated Pinots to choose from. Aromatic, flavorful Sauvignon Blanc’s appeal to an increasing number of sophisticated consumers is satisfied by Geyser Peak, one of the most award-winning Sauvignon Blancs in the USA. And for the increasing number of “Cab-is-King” consumers who are on a continuing quest to find the ultimate California Cabernet experience, Deutsch now offers Cabernet Sauvignon’s from some of the most coveted vineyard sites in the country – including ten 90+ rated Cabs!”
In line with Deutsch’s long term strategy of acquiring equity positions in key wine producing regions around the world, Ascentia’s assets will add 646 acres of prime California and Washington vineyards to Deutsch’s current holdings in Australia and France. The recipient of numerous accolades including “Importer of the Year”, Deutsch will continue to expand the depth of its fine wine portfolio and its vineyard holdings, as it identifies emerging regions and long-term growth opportunities around the globe.
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About W.J. Deutsch & Sons
W.J. Deutsch & Sons was founded in 1981 by Chairman, Bill Deutsch, to market quality wines produced by prestigious families from major wine regions of the world. Deutsch’s wines are sold to the trade with well-planned marketing support and offered to U.S. consumers at fair market prices. Today the company is renowned for its brand building prowess and ability to identify and fill consumer niches within the wine category. They have built numerous category leaders including: the #1 selling brand in the US, the #1 imported brand in the US, the #1 Australian brand in the US, and the #1 French brand in the US. Bill’s son Peter Deutsch is CEO; thus two generations of the Deutsch family work side by side in their continuous quest to build strong brands and relationships throughout the wine industry. In addition to the new Ascentia brands, the W. J. Deutsch & Sons portfolio of award-winning wines includes from: Australia; [yellow tail], [yellow tail] The Reserve, [yellow tail] Sparkling, California; Kunde Estate, Esser Vineyards, France; Andre Lurton, Georges Duboeuf, HobNob Vineyards, J. Vidal Fleury, Pierre Sparr, Sauvion et Fils, Italy; Barone Fini, Castello di Monastero, Coldisole, Poggio alle Sughere, Villa Pozzi, New Zealand; The Crossings, Portugal; Quinta Do Vale Meao. For additional information about W.J. Deutsch & Sons please visit the company's Web site at wjdeutsch.com.
About The Ascentia Wine Estates portfolio:
Geyser Peak Winery Founded in 1880, Geyser Peak winery consistently garners some of the most prestigious awards in winemaking, including numerous Winery of the Year and Winemaker of the Year honors. Its outstanding team of winemakers and viticulturalists are noted for fruit-forward, food-friendly wines from prime vineyard sources in the Alexander Valley of Sonoma County, with Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon as the centerpiece of its portfolio. For more information see www.geyserpeakwinery.com.
Atlas Peak® Atlas Peak’s Mountain Cabernet Series offers five distinct wines sourced from four of the most renowned appellations in Napa Valley: Atlas Peak, Mount Veeder, Spring Mountain and Howell Mountain. Atlas Peak’s most valuable resource is literally underfoot: the elevation of its vineyards, between 1400 and 1800 feet high above the Napa Valley floor. While this can benefit many varietals, no grape develops as well in mountain conditions as Cabernet Sauvignon. For more information, please visit www.atlaspeak.com.
Buena Vista Carneros Founded in 1857 as California’s first premium winery, Buena Vista Carneros is the largest vineyard owner in the Carneros appellation. Recent significant capital investments in winemaking and viticulture, such as 63 new open top fermenters and the careful replanting of its 523 acres to selected clones of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Merlot and Syrah, have positioned Buena Vista as a leading quality wine producer from the Carneros region.
Gary Farrell Vineyards & Winery Located in the heart of Russian River Valley, Gary Farrell Vineyards & Winery is a boutique winery known for producing extremely small-lot Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Pioneering Russian River Valley winemaking with legends such as Joe Rochioli, Davis Bynum and Tom Dehlinger, winemaker Gary Farrell has been an integral producer in the region. Susan Reed, appointed winemaker for Gary Farrell Vineyards and Winery, carries on the high standards of artisanal winemaking that has given Gary Farrell Vineyards and Winery its fame and reputation. For more information, please visit: www.garyfarrellwines.com.
Columbia Winery Columbia Winery was founded in 1962 by ten friends, six of whom were University of Washington professors. Originally known as Associated Vintners, the group was united in the belief that fine wine could be made in Washington State. David Lake, Master of Wine, joined Columbia Winery in 1979 as winemaker and has continued the pioneering spirit of Columbia Winery’s founders. He was the first winemaker to produce several varietals in Washington, including Syrah, Cabernet Franc and Pinot Gris. Today, the innovation continues under the expert direction of Kerry Norton, one of the greatest winemakers in the Pacific Northwest.
Covey Run 2007 marked the 25th anniversary of Covey Run. Since the release of the 1982 vintage, Covey Run has crafted high quality, price worthy wines from Washington’s Columbia River Valley, wines that have been embraced by consumers and journalists alike earning 20 Wine Spectator Best Values awards. Covey Run’s portfolio includes delicious wines for every occasion, from stylish entertaining to casual gatherings and picnics with family and friends.
Ste. Chapelle is Idaho's #1 selling brand, with quality that communicates the region's diversity and emergence as a world-class wine region. The Snake River Valley's high altitude vineyards, which enjoy long daylight hours, warm summer days and crisp evenings, supply Ste. Chapelle with the superior grapes for its award-winning wines.
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Please drink responsibly.
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Barbara Scalera, Public Relations Director, W. J. Deutsch & Sons,
914-251-3294
barbara.scalera@wjdeutsch.com
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