Duckhorn Quashes Rumors Of Sale To Constellation

Napa Valley’s Duckhorn Wine Company has sought to tamp down talk that it’s on the selling block. Responding to a report that asserted Constellation may snap up Duckhorn from private equity owner GI Partners for $800 million, Duckhorn president and CEO Alex Ryan denied that a deal is in the offing.

“The story that appeared today on Wine Industry Insight stating that Constellation is buying Duckhorn Wine Company is not true,” Ryan said in a statement. “Since our company was acquired by GI Partners, there have been rumors that we are for sale. With GI Partners’ recent acquisition of Far Niente/Nickel & Nickel, these rumors have intensified, but I assure you that this story is not true.” Meanwhile, contacted by SND, Constellation called the report “speculation” and declined to comment further.

Founded in 1976 by Dan and Margaret Duckhorn and acquired by GI in 2007, Duckhorn’s portfolio includes the flagship Duckhorn Vineyards, as well as the Paraduxx, Goldeneye, Migration, Decoy by Duckhorn and Canvasback brands, retailing from around $20 and up. In particular, Decoy by Duckhorn (around $25 a bottle) has seen torrid growth lately, more than doubling over the past three years to above 400,000 cases in annual sales, according to Impact Databank. —Daniel Marsteller

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