Gallo buys Diageo winery

E & J Gallo Winery has announced an agreement to purchase Edna Valley Vineyard from Diageo Chateau & Estate Wines Company and Paragon Vineyard Company, who held Edna Valley Vineyard as a joint venture.

Gallo will continue to partner with Paragon as a source of grapes for the Edna Valley Vineyard wines.

Edna Valley Vineyard produces a range of wines, specialising in Chardonnay. The purchase includes the winery, the brand and 62 acres of which 44 acres are planted with Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. The vineyard and winery are located five miles from the Pacific Ocean in San Luis Obispo.

In 2004, Gallo purchased the Bridlewood Estate Winery located in the Santa Ynez Valley of Santa Barbara County and in 2007, Gallo purchased the William Hill Estate Winery in Napa.

Roger Nabedian, senior vice president and general manager of Gallo’s premium wine division said: “Edna Valley will help us expand both our footprint in the Central Coast and in the Chardonnay category. The brand represents wines from a superior appellation and is well positioned to offer consumers wines of extraordinary value long into the future.”

The transaction is expected to close in the next few weeks. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.