Production and continuing growing production, his reputation and his brand to an inconic label and portfolio with a wide cult-like following. He made the first Prisoner wine in 2000 with a 385 case Tons of zinfandel and not much else, he spent the next decade making Have to be for himself, he founded Orin Swift Cellars in 1998, named after Orin, his father’s middle name, and Swift, his mother’s maiden name. Job at Robert Mondavi Winery in 1997 starting as a temporary harvest worker.ĭeciding that if he was going to work this hard, it would eventually After graduation from university, he eventually landed a Offer and went to Florence, Italy to spend a semester “studying”.ĭuring that time, he was introduced to wine, how it was made, and he got Phinney's interest in wines datesīack to 1995 when on a lark, David Swift Phinney took a friend up on an market trends that favor high-end wine brands.The Prisoner brand was first created by Orin Swift back in 1998 by winemaker and founder David Phinney. "This acquisition is the next step in our strategy," said Newlands, "enabling us to further capitalize on U.S. The firm paid $315 million for Joe Wagner’s Pinot Noir brand Meiomi last July. This is the second major brand purchase by Constellation in less than a year. “Constellation’s market reach, business intelligence and access to high quality grapes will enable the brands’ continued growth momentum.”Īccording to Constellation, winemaker Jen Beloz (who took over for Phinney in 2011) and her team will consult on the winemaking, but the company will move production to Napa's Franciscan Estate Winery. “Our team-including employees, growers, distributors and winery partners-have created and built an exceptional portfolio of fine wines, and we are very proud of the success they have achieved in a relatively short time frame,” said Agustin Francisco Huneeus, head of the company. Huneeus has continued to expand the brand, increasing production to 170,000 cases last year. Sources report the price tag then was $40 million. In 2010, Phinney sold the brand to Huneeus Vintners, owners of Quintessa, after growing it to 85,000 cases. Sales have been even stronger for blends priced over $20. According to Nielsen, red blend sales grew 7.6 percent by volume in 2015. The California red blend category has grown dramatically since the first vintage of The Prisoner, with wine drinkers-particularly young ones-turning to blends with strong brand identities over varietal Merlot and Syrah. The wine consistently earns outstanding reviews from Wine Spectator, and has appeared on Wine Spectator’s Top 100 list multiple times. Phinney crafted a contemporary version of the California field blend-Zinfandel with portions of Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Petite Sirah and Charbono. The Prisoner is a modern-day wine success story, launched by Orin Swift founder Dave Phinney in 2000. We continually look for opportunities to strengthen our position within this portion of the industry.” wine market and to continue to premiumize our portfolio. “More than ever, consumers are seeking high quality, distinctive wines, and the portfolio we are acquiring from The Prisoner Wine Company delivers,” said Bill Newlands, president of Constellation’s wine and spirits division. The transaction, expected to close this month, includes just the brands. The portfolio includes five brands: superstar blend The Prisoner, as well as Saldo, Cuttings, Blindfold and Thorn. Constellation Brands, one of the world’s largest wine companies, is investing big in California red blends, buying the brands of The Prisoner Wine Company from Huneeus Vintners.
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