Northwest Wineries Mergers and Acquisitions: An Industry in Transition

Erik McLaughlin, director of Wine & Spirits Services for Exvere, discusses recent mergers and acquisitions in the Northwest wine industry. The industry is maturing and has entered a stage of significant growth and change, fueled in part by large out-of-state and international investment. National recognition of wines from the region combined with generational changes in ownership have made the Northwest a hotbed of winery mergers and acquisitions activity. Recent acquisitions of established Northwest brands such as DeLille, Penner-Ash, Seven Hills, and WillaKenzie are only the beginning. This activity is likely to continue as large winery operators look for more upscale holdings and Oregon wines continue to gain in popularity in the global market.