APRIL NEWS CALIFORNIA Sapporo
Lion Nathan acquires MacRostie Lion Nathan USA an- nounced the acquisi- tion of 30,000-case Sonoma-based Mac- Rostie Winery and Vineyards, established in 1987. Founder Steve
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MacRostie and longtime winemaker Kevin Holt will both be staying on at MacRostie and will contin- ue to contribute to the winemak- ing program and brand direc- tion. Visit: lion- nathanusa.com and macrostie- winery.com.
Tokyo
Fetzer portfolio fetches $238 million Chilean-based Viña Concha y Toro an- nounced the acquisition of 4 million-case Fetzer Vineyards and related assets from Brown-Forman in California. The pur- chase price for the transaction is $238 mil- lion. The transaction is expected to close
in April and is subject to regulatory and other customary closing conditions. The acquisition includes Fetzer, Bonterra, Five Rivers, Jekel, Sanctuary and Little Black Dress. Details: conchaytoro.com.
Buena vista Carneros to be consolidated Ascentia Wine Estates will consolidate production and expand grape sourcing for its Buena Vista wine brand. Buena Vista operations will be shifted to the 225,000-case Geyser Peak facility, an- other brand in the Ascentia Wines port- folio. Visit: ascentiawineestates.com.
Patty Bogle dies Patty Bogle, head of Bogle Winery, passed away Feb. 11, surrounded by family in her home. She succumbed to complications related to acute
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myeloid leukemia. Bogle was 59. The Bogle family win- ery will continue to operate under the direction of her chil- dren and longtime employees. Visit: boglewinery.com.
NORTHWEST
Loosen and Somers partner for Pinot German winemaker Ernst Loosen of Dr. Loosen in the Mosel Valley has partnered with Jay Somers of 6,000-case J. Christo-
pher Wines in Oregon's northern Wil- lamette Valley. The new venture, Loosen Christopher Wines LLC, will produce wines un- der the es- tablished J. Christopher brand. The venture has purchased a 40-acre site for a new vineyard. Planting of the first block of Pinot Noir will begin this spring. Visit: drloosen.com and jchris- topherwines.com.
Ernst Loosen (left) & Jay Somers
A to Z announces new sales force Ron Mertz, newly appointed president of sales of Newberg, Ore.-based 135,000-
www.alainfouquet.com alainfouquet@aol.com
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