Classic Wines of California Expands Fine Wine Portfolio with Addition of Four Strategic Partnerships
These collaborations align with Classic's strategic growth initiative, which include investing tens of millions of dollars in strengthening infrastructure, investing in talent, and curating a portfolio of exceptional brands that reflect the depth and excellence of California wine country.
"As a family-owned company deeply rooted in California for four generations, our goal is to be the most trusted, best-in-class partner for California wineries," said Dominic Engels, CEO of Classic Wines of California. "We are committed to serving the wine industry with operational excellence, strategic focus, and deep respect for the craft. Welcoming Whitehall Lane, Resurrection Brands, Guthrie Family Wines, and Merriam Vineyards into our portfolio is a proud moment in that mission. This is just the first of many new partnerships to come."
About the Wineries
Whitehall Lane Winery, founded in 1979 and owned by the Leonardini family since 1993, farms approximately 145 estate acres in the Rutherford, St. Helena, and Oak Knoll AVAs of Napa Valley. A Napa Green certified estate, the winery is recognized for its world-class Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, and Pinot Noir.
Resurrection Brands brings two multi-generational, family-owned wineries: McManis Family Vineyards and LangeTwins Family Winery and Vineyards. With a shared ethos of sustainability, innovation, and deep Central Valley farming roots, Resurrection Brands brings together two powerhouse producers dedicated to elevating the region's profile through premium wine offerings and regenerative practices.
Guthrie Family Wines, founded by Blair and Caroline Guthrie, brings a modern, minimalist approach to Sonoma winemaking rooted in sustainability and transparency. Sourcing from organically and biodynamically farmed vineyards and using low-intervention techniques, Guthrie crafts crisp, clean white and chillable red wines such as Picpoul Blanc, Vermentino, Carbonic Grenache and Gamay Noir.
Merriam Vineyards is a family-owned certified organic estate vineyard and winery located in Healdsburg. Situated in the Eastern Hills of the Russian River Valley, the winery is dedicated to sustainable farming, French-inspired varietals, exceptional hospitality, and environmental stewardship.
With the addition of these standout producers, Classic Wines of California reinforces its role as a trusted distribution partner for family-led, premium wineries. Whitehall Lane, Resurrection Brands, Guthrie Family Wines, and Merriam Vineyards will benefit from Classic's statewide network, trade support, and marketing resources, positioning them for thoughtful, sustained growth in the fine wine market.
About Classic Wines of California
Classic Wines of California is a premier wine and spirits distributor dedicated to serving California's diverse retail and restaurant community. The company offers vertically integrated capabilities through its affiliation with Bivio Trucking, allowing for seamless logistics and reliable service across the state. As a family-owned company, it brings deep industry expertise, exceptional service, and an expansive portfolio of high-quality products to the marketplace. For more information, visit www.classicwinesofcalifornia.com.
View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/classic-wines-of-california-expands-fine-wine-portfolio-with-addition-of-four-strategic-partnerships-302488563.html
SOURCE Classic Wines
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
9 hours ago
- Yahoo
Spike Wine Honors the Question, "Who Saved Who?" with New Cabernet Sauvignon
NAPA VALLEY, Calif., Aug. 19, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Spike Wine, located in Napa Valley, CA, is releasing a new California North Coast Cabernet Sauvignon that recognizes the remarkable connection between humans and their canine companions. This wine commemorates Spike, a rescued dog that has brought so much life to so many people. Discover the story behind Spike Wine and experience a high-quality, value-driven Cabernet Sauvignon. Visit to learn more about our wine. "Spike Wine was created to inspire people to consider adopting a sheltered pet. I met Spike as a rescued puppy. He represents the incredible bond between humans and animals. Our 2022 California North Coast Cabernet Sauvignon is not just a high-quality, value-driven wine with a beautiful label, but a tribute to the unwavering support and love that dogs like Spike offer," said the team at Spike Wine. "Just looking at a bottle of Spike on your dinner table will remind you of the joy and healing power our canine companions bring into our lives." The creation of Spike Wine was sparked by the story of a rescue dog named Spike. This Cabernet Sauvignon stands out from competitors due to its exceptional value and attractive packaging. The 2022 Spike Wine California North Coast Cabernet Sauvignon offers several benefits: Exceptional Quality: Crafted with care to deliver a delightful wine experience. Great Value: Provides a high-quality wine at an accessible price point. Beautiful Package: Screen printed Spike bottle will last forever. Promotes Animal Adoption: Celebrates "Who Saved Who?" Philanthropic: A portion of the proceeds are donated to the American Humane Society. A Natural, Gluten Free, Vegan Friendly Wine. When we welcome a pet into our lives from a shelter, we often believe we are the ones doing the saving. The reality is, they rescue us in ways we could never have imagined. For individuals dealing with illness, whether physical or mental, the connection with an animal can be transformative. Dogs, with their inherent empathy and unwavering loyalty, provide a unique form of healing that goes beyond conventional medicine. They offer companionship during times of profound loneliness and establish a sense of routine when the mind feels clouded by chaos. When love seems difficult to give or receive, they offer it without hesitation. Through the simple act of loving and nurturing, we reconnect with life. It becomes clear that the dog didn't just find an owner; they found someone who needed them just as much as they needed a home. Media Contact: Mario Monticelli mario@ 707.307.3693 Spike Wine is a high-quality value driven California Cabernet Sauvignon. The purpose is to bring awareness to the value of the human-canine relationship and the importance of adopting sheltered animals. A portion of the proceeds are donated to the American Humane Society. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Spike Wine
San Francisco Chronicle
5 days ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
This new Napa Valley winery is charging $250 for tastings. Here's why
Patrice Breton admits that $250 is a lot to charge for a wine tasting. But the Napa Valley vintner stands by it. When visitors come to his Vice Versa winery, which recently opened in Calistoga, Breton said he opens at least $1,000 worth of wine. A four-glass flight, a 'crescendo in terms of intensity,' will likely include Vice Versa's $575 Magnificent Seven, a Cabernet Sauvignon sourced from name-brand vineyards like To Kalon, Dr. Crane and Las Piedras, before moving on to $350 Les Cousins, a 50-50 blend of Napa Valley and Paso Robles Cabernet that's a collaboration with Paso winery L'Aventure. Still, Breton hopes he won't have to charge the tasting fee at all. He'd rather customers buy at least three bottles of Vice Versa, which waives the charge. His permit allows him to host a maximum of 10 people a day, so he wants to make every visit count. 'Some people can do as many tastings as they want, and I don't have that luxury,' said Breton. Since opening last month, Vice Versa has been busy, Breton said. In fact, sales are up about 30% this year, a stark contrast with the overall U.S. wine industry, whose retail sales were down 6% year over year as of April, according to Wine Business Analytics. Small-scale, high-end wines like Vice Versa are performing better than lower-priced wines right now, and companies that rely more heavily on direct-to-consumer sales — which a tasting room enables — are better insulated from the crisis unfolding in the wine distribution tier. The Calistoga winery opening is the end of a long road for Breton, who has operated Vice Versa since 2003 as a virtual brand with no facility or vineyards of its own. Like many upscale Napa wine brands, he buys fruit from some of the most pedigreed sites, especially those owned by grower Andy Beckstoffer, and employs a famous winemaking consultant, Philippe Melka. But now that he has a stake in the ground, Breton hopes that Vice Versa will stand out among the Napa elite with an estate whose aesthetic he describes as both 'minimalist' and 'punk rock.' The 5,000-square-foot steel and concrete structure hovers over an outdoor crushpad, lined with slender stainless tanks and concrete cylinders. (The fireproof materials mean that his insurance bill is only $1,000 a month, he said, a bargain for a rural winery.) The indoor areas are contained almost entirely within underground caves, and an arched doorway leads into a spare tasting room with a single long, black table. Chaotic paintings from Brazilian artist Bruno Leonardo Franklin de Melo line the walls of the tasting room, a look that Breton said is inspired by his stint as the bass player in a punk band. Despite the loud colors, the place is quiet: Breton spent $1 million on a cooling system that doesn't make the loud heaving noises that other systems do. He will project black and white films like 'Casablanca' or 'Seven Samurai' with no sound. The look may be minimalist, but the budget was not. When Breton acquired the 11-acre property in 2019, it came with plans for a winery designed by Howard Backen, the famed Wine Country architect who died in 2024. He wanted a different look from the luxe stone farmhouses that are Backen's signature, and enlisted San Francisco architects Olle Lundberg and Lev Bereznycky. They drew up a second floor, but the initial quote of $18 million jumped to about $40 million after Napa Valley's 2020 wildfires, which drove up demand for new construction. Breton decided to hold off on the second story for now. The Ottawa-born Breton made his fortune in software, founding Mediagrif Interactive Technologies in 1996, an early player in Canada's tech industry. In the span of a few years, he said, he went from a 20-something working in his basement to running a public company with more than 450 employees and over $76 million in annual revenue. When Breton left in 2001, he said he was sleeping four hours a night. 'I wasn't healthy. I was exhausted.' Although he came from a hockey-and-beer sort of family, Breton had become passionate about wine. His first love was Sauternes, the golden-colored sweet wine of Bordeaux, and in 2002, he came close to buying a 200-year-old chateau there. But the winery wasn't doing very well and he decided against it. He came to California instead, where he 'loved the possibility to innovate and create.' Winemaker Paul Hobbs took him under his wing, putting Breton on the sorting line during harvest and helping him secure a small amount of fruit for himself. The first vintage of Vice Versa was a blend of fruit from the To Kalon and Stagecoach vineyards in 2003. He managed to generate some buzz on critic Robert Parker 's forum and sold out of his small production quickly. 'Pliant' is the word Breton uses most frequently to describe his desired wine style. He prizes a wine's texture, seeking 'that silky finish.' The wines, like many that Melka advises on, indeed feel smooth and supple — Les Cousins, the Napa-Paso blend, is the most chewily tannic of the bunch — with generously ripe, fruit-forward flavors. He accentuates the silkiness by decanting all wines before serving them to customers as long as nine hours in advance. (Though Melka consults, Spencer Kelly is the day-to-day winemaker.) Breton seeded Vice Versa with $3 million of his personal funds, he said, and it took him 10 years to break even. That year, 2013, was when Breton stopped traveling back and forth from Montreal and moved to Napa Valley. His investment was still a pittance compared with what it would have cost to buy a winery upfront, he believes. Rather than sink $50 million into real estate, 'I decided to build the brand first.' His Calistoga property came with 5.5 acres of 30-year-old Cabernet Sauvignon and, surprisingly, Lagrein, a northern Italian red that's rare in California. He's removed the Lagrein vines and plans to replant more Cabernet and perhaps Cabernet Franc. The fruit currently goes into Vice Versa's lowest-priced wine, the $150 Spinning Plates. Although the winery is permitted to produce up to 10,000 cases of wine a year, Breton said he'll stick with his current 5,000-case output for now. After nearly 20 years of custom crushing, he is looking forward to the greater control that having his own winery will afford him in 2025. In the meantime, he's scouting for his next big purchase to extend further control over his grape quality: another vineyard. 'I've got my eye on something,' Breton said. With many wineries and vineyards closing or selling right now, 'it's a good time to look.'
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Yahoo
JUSTIN Vineyards & Winery Expands Portfolio With New Central Coast Chardonnay
PASO ROBLES, Calif., Aug. 13, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- JUSTIN Vineyards & Winery, a pioneer of Paso Robles winemaking, is expanding its award-winning lineup with its new Central Coast Chardonnay. A fresh take on a classic varietal, JUSTIN's 2023 Central Coast Chardonnay is available now at major retailers, restaurants, and independent wine shops nationwide. Chardonnay is the No. 1-selling wine varietal in the U.S.* and as consumers increasingly seek out crisp, refreshing whites, JUSTIN identified an opportunity to fill a gap in its portfolio with a vibrant, approachable Chardonnay available at an accessible price point. Crafted in stainless steel and neutral French oak barrels, JUSTIN's Central Coast Chardonnay offers a balanced profile that breaks from the traditional oaky style often associated with California Chardonnays. Delivering the style and versatility consumers are seeking, and featuring a convenient screw cap, it's the perfect pour for any occasion 'As the only winery in the country honored with both a MICHELIN Star and a Five-Star rating by Forbes Travel Guide, JUSTIN has a deep understanding of what today's consumers seek in food-versatile wines. Through our culinary program and guest experiences, we've seen a clear gravitation toward Chardonnays that are bright, fruit-forward, and refreshingly balanced – wines that pair effortlessly across a wide range of cuisines and occasions,' said Steve Myers, president of JUSTIN Vineyards & Winery. 'While we've been crafting small-lot, exclusive Chardonnays since 1987 – available only to our wine club Members and through our tasting rooms – we're excited to offer a Chardonnay for the first time in nationwide distribution. This new release will allow us to serve JUSTIN's dedicated fan base while also inviting new Chardonnay lovers to discover our brand.' Sourced from vineyards across California's Central Coast – spanning Monterey to Santa Barbara – the JUSTIN 2023 Central Coast Chardonnay showcases the diversity of the region. The distinct soils and microclimates contribute to the wine's bright, textured palate and layered complexity. Medium-bodied and dry on entry, this wine has notes of ripe pineapple, Bartlett pear, and lemon curd. The midpalate follows with honeydew melon complemented by herbal notes of tarragon and fennel. The finish is elegant and fresh, with flavors of Granny Smith apple and bright, lingering acidity. 'I'm excited to introduce this balanced, modern Chardonnay to the JUSTIN portfolio that will both appeal to traditional Chardonnay lovers and attract a new fanbase to the varietal,' said Taryn Salazar, senior manager of winemaking operations for JUSTIN Vineyards & Winery and winemaker of the JUSTIN 2023 Central Coast Chardonnay. 'The aging process, combined with the different regions where the grapes are sourced, makes this a lighter, vibrant, and approachable Chardonnay that is great for any occasion.' While known for its Bordeaux-style wines, JUSTIN actually began its foray into winemaking with Chardonnay. Chardonnay was one of the first grapes planted by founder Justin Baldwin in 1981, with the first vintage produced in 1987 – making this launch both a return to the winery's roots and a bold step in the brand's continued growth. The 2023 Central Coast Chardonnay launched in July and is available nationwide. For more information and to find locations where the wine is sold, please visit JUSTIN's online store locator at *Source: Circana – Total US MULO – Latest 52 weeks ending 8/3/25. About JUSTIN Vineyards & Winery The pioneer of Paso Robles, CA, JUSTIN® Vineyards & Winery was founded in 1981 and is known for crafting world-class Bordeaux-style wines including the iconic ISOSCELES® blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Merlot. Beyond Bordeaux varietals, JUSTIN also produces elegant Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs that showcase the diversity and unique character of the Central Coast region. The Vineyard Estate features a tasting room, luxury five-star accommodations at The JUST Inn®, and a restaurant – making it one of the only wineries on the Central Coast to offer all three amenities. The JUSTIN Tasting Room offers lunch, while The Restaurant at JUSTIN offers a MICHELIN-Starred, multi-course fine dining experience Thursday through Sunday. JUSTIN also has a second tasting room conveniently located in the heart of Downtown Paso Robles. In addition to its stellar hospitality, JUSTIN consistently receives top honors around the world, establishing itself as a leader in New World winemaking. JUSTIN wines are available through fine wine retailers and restaurants throughout the United States, or directly from the winery via JUSTIN's tasting rooms, online store, or to members of the exclusive JUSTIN Wine Society wine club. To discover more about JUSTIN, visit To learn more about our corporate social responsibility work, visit Contact: Ellie Mojica (310) 592-9547Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
