Latest news with #RobertHanson
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Industry Veteran Robert Hanson Joins Advisory Group at Game Changer Bourbon, Owner of Stephen Curry's Gentleman's Cut
NEW YORK, May 20, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Thirty Ink/Game Changer Bourbon LLC, the team behind one of the country's fastest growing bourbon brands, and the producer of Stephen Curry's Gentleman's Cut Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey is proud to welcome veteran industry executive Robert Hanson to its advisory group. Robert's addition comes at a pivotal time for Gentleman's Cut and Game Changer Bourbon, which is rapidly scaling its U.S. presence through distribution with Southern Glazer Wine & Spirits and expanding globally in top travel retail markets across Asia, Europe, and the Middle East. The brand has doubled growth year-over-year and continues to establish itself as a serious player in the bourbon category. This next chapter reflects Gentleman Cut's commitment to premium positioning, strategic leadership, and continued category innovation. Hanson brings deep expertise in global brand building and premium beverage growth strategy, with more than 30 years of experience scaling iconic consumer brands. He is currently CEO of The Duckhorn Portfolio, an Operating Partner at Butterfly Equity, and a Senior Advisor to Bain Consulting. His past leadership roles include EVP/President of Wine & Spirits at Constellation Brands, where he helped drive its premium portfolio expansion, CEO positions at John Hardy and American Eagle Outfitters, and Global Brand President at Levi's. For more on the Gentleman's Cut, visit and follow along on instagram @gentlemanscutbourbon. ABOUT GENTLEMAN'S CUTStephen Curry's Thirty Ink with John Schwartz formed Game Changer, LLC., a joint venture with Boone County Distilling Company in Northern Kentucky, to create Gentleman's Cut. This Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey from Stephen Curry is aged 5-7 years. The bourbon's complex mashbill of 75% Corn, 21% Rye and 4% Malted Barley delivers tasting notes of honey, fresh vanilla bean, and rich caramel on the palate. Our inaugural bottling is polished and smooth at 90 proof. We distill our whiskey the traditional way, in a 500-gallon Copper Pot still. Media ContactsMidnight DawnTom Dietz // Stephen BaruchGentlemansCut@ View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Gentleman's Cut Error 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
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Duckhorn to consolidate portfolio, close tasting rooms
The Duckhorn Portfolio plans to focus its investment on a clutch of wineries and close some of its tasting rooms in a bid to "profitably scale". The US luxury wine group said it will prioritise its spend on "four core wineries" – Duckhorn Vineyards, Kosta Browne, Decoy, and Sonoma-Cutrer, as well as the Goldeneye Calera, and Greenwing brands. Duckhorn's CEO Robert Hanson said the move was part of the group's regular evaluation of its portfolio 'to ensure it is well-positioned to expand and profitably scale'. The wineries account for 96% of the Californian company's net sales and represent the 'biggest growth opportunity' within its portfolio, it said. The seven wine brands the company has chosen to prioritise operate within the $15-50 premium and luxury wine segments. Over the last 24 months, Duckhorn said its portfolio accounted for 37% of growth in the premium and luxury price segment and 'continues to gain market share'. Hanson added that the seven brands had 'tremendous potential' to support Duckhorn's ambition of becoming the 'leader in American luxury wine'. Consequently, Duckhorn will pull resources away from brands including Canvasback, Migration, Paraduxx, and Postmark. These labels, which generated just 3.9% of Duckhorn's total gross profit over the past nine months, 'have been declining on a trailing 12-month basis,' the company said. They will continue to be available in the wholesale market for the next few years. The Californian group will also close tasting rooms that are not 'generating significant revenue or contributing to profitability' by June. Closures include Californian locations Migration in Napa and Sonoma-Cutrer in Windsor, plus Canvasback in Walla Walla, Washington. Despite the closure of the Sonoma-Cutrer tasting room, its wholesale business, membership club, and winemaking operations will remain the 'primary focus of this growth brand within the portfolio', Duckhorn said. The news follows recent management shifts in the business. Hanson, a former Constellation Brands executive, was appointed CEO in January, while Duckhorn appointed former WC Brands executive Jeff Ngo as its new chief growth officer last month. "Duckhorn to consolidate portfolio, close tasting rooms " was originally created and published by Just Drinks, a GlobalData owned brand.
San Francisco Chronicle
07-05-2025
- Business
- San Francisco Chronicle
Napa Valley wine giant to close tasting rooms and consolidate its brands
The Duckhorn Portfolio, one of Napa Valley's most prominent wine companies, is closing two Wine Country tasting rooms and consolidating its portfolio to focus on its four most successful labels. The Migration tasting room in Napa and one of Sonoma County's most classic wineries, Sonoma-Cutrer, in Windsor will close in June, though the latter winery will continue sales through wholesale and a wine club. The news, first reported by the Northwest Wine Report, comes roughly six months after Duckhorn sold to private equity firm Butterfly Equity in an all-cash deal that values the business at $1.95 billion. The company announced Tuesday that it will concentrate investments on Duckhorn Vineyards, Kosta Browne, Decoy and Sonoma-Cutrer, along with Goldeneye, Calera, and Greenwing. These brands now account for 96% of Duckhorn's total sales. 'We see tremendous potential for our core four wineries,' CEO Robert Hanson said in the press release. 'As we continue to execute our strategic priorities, we consistently evaluate our portfolio to ensure it is well-positioned to expand and profitably scale.' Duckhorn did not immediately respond to the Chronicle's request for comment Tuesday night. Those core wineries operate in the $15-50 premium and luxury wine category, which has grown approximately 7% over the past 12 years, the company added. Over the last 24 months, the Duckhorn Portfolio has accounted for 37% of the growth in this segment and continues to expand its market share. As part of the new direction, Duckhorn will reduce resources dedicated to underperforming brands like Canvasback, Migration, Paraduxx and Postmark. It said the brands together account for only 3.9% of Duckhorn's gross profit. Duckhorn, whose flagship St. Helena winery is one of the best-known names in Napa Valley, has been through many ownership changes in recent years. Founded in 1976 by Dan and Margaret Duckhorn, it became known for favoring Merlot, a grape variety that many of their counterparts in Napa Valley only used for a minor part of a Cabernet Sauvignon-based blend. The business steadily grew as the Duckhorns acquired hundreds of acres of vineyards and introduced a series of waterfowl-themed spinoff brands. In 2021, the company went public, but the Butterfly deal brought it back under private ownership. Duckhorn is not the first major wine company to announce a shakeup in 2025 as the wine industry downturn worsens. In April, Constellation Brands offloaded its low-tier wine brands to the Wine Group and Jackson Family Wines confirmed layoffs. Lawrence Wine Estates recently laid off its three-person Haynes Vineyard production staff and has consolidated much of its production. Several other Wine Country tasting rooms have closed this year, including Napa's Twomey. The company said it will close tasting rooms 'that are not generating significant revenue or contributing to profitability.'
