Napa’s Pine Ridge, Sonoma’s Seghesio Lead The Way For Crimson Wine Group

Napa-based Crimson Wine Group has a varied portfolio that draws from Napa, Sonoma, and the Central Coast, as well as Washington and Oregon. The company posted revenue of $72 million last year on shipments of just under 400,000 cases. Crimson chief executive Jen Locke, a veteran of Treasury Wine Estates, Willakenzie, and Chalone, tells SND the company is focusing in on its core SKUs nationally while seeding growth for its smaller labels.

Crimson’s volume is led by Pine Ridge Chenin Blanc-Viognier ($16) and Seghesio Zinfandel ($26), which had shipments of 194,000 cases and 129,000 cases respectively in 2023. “We like to fly a little bit under the radar,” says Locke. “We’re leaders in white blends and we’re leaders in Zin. We certainly sell our share of Cabernet and Chardonnay, but that isn’t volumetrically what defines us. I think it’s allowed us to maintain that category-weighted distribution and ultimately pull and velocity.”

Pine Ridge Chenin Blanc-Viognier has doubled in size since Locke took the helm at Crimson in late 2019, boosted by its prominence nationally in Trader Joe’s. “We would look to double that again and then hold our position as a Zinfandel category leader with Seghesio,” she says. “Obviously Zinfandel is under a lot of pressure, but the style we make we feel is actually very relevant to the type of wine consumers want to drink right now. But the category is really sensitive to pricing.”

Other key labels in Crimson’s California lineup are Pine Ridge Traveler’s Cabernet Sauvignon ($38), Pine Ridge Napa Valley Cabernet ($70), Seghesio Chardonnay ($22), Chamisal SLO Pinot Noir ($24), and Chamisal SLO Chardonnay ($18), along with Seven Hills Sauvignon Blanc ($20) and Seven Hills Walla Walla Cabernet ($35) from Washington.

From Oregon, Crimson has revamped its Archery Summit portfolio, with the flagship Pinot Noir and Chardonnay now entirely from the Dundee Hills estate. The winery’s range also includes sub-label Vireton by Archery Summit, which offers Willamette Valley Pinot Gris and Pinot Noir bottlings.

Looking ahead, Locke says, “We probably need two more wines that get over a hundred thousand cases organically and that won’t happen tomorrow, but that’s the ambition.” She adds that the company is also focused on continuing to address its carbon footprint by using lighter-weight bottles, which appeals to the growing number of eco-conscious consumers. “If you look at your carbon inputs, it’s the number-one thing that suppliers can control,” she says, noting that Pine Ridge Chenin Blanc-Viognier especially stands out for its lightweight bottle.—Daniel Marsteller

Tagged : Archery Summit, Chamisal, Crimson Wine Group, Pine Ridge, Seghesio, Seven Hills

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