Constellation Brands announces acquisition

Canandaigua-based wine company Constellation Brands Inc. announced that it has completed the acquisition of the Mark West wine brand from Purple Wine Company LLC for approximately $160 million Tuesday.

The transaction includes the Mark West trademark, certain grape supply contracts and inventories of wines from California appellations: a California pinot noir, a Russian River reserve pinot noir and a Santa Lucia reserve pinot noir, along with a chardonnay.

Mark West has had 10 years of double digit growth and has grown into a nearly 600,000-case brand sold primarily in the U.S.

“Mark West is one of the fastest-growing major pinot noirs in the market and has exceeded the growth of the category,” said Rob Sands, chief executive officer of Constellation Brands. “The brand is an exciting addition and fills a gap in our portfolio of pinot noir brands.”