Latest news with #RobertMondavi
Forbes
14-07-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Continuing Excellence at Robert Mondavi Winery
Detail of To Kalon vineyard in Oakville, the source of the finest examples of Cabernet Sauvignon and Fumé (Sauvignon) Blanc from Robert Mondavi Winery Photo courtesy Robert Mondavi Winery He probably didn't realize it at the time, but when Robert Mondavi opened his eponymous winery in Oakville in 1966, he was ushering in a renaissance of Napa Valley glory. This was the first winery of any size to open in Napa Valley since the end of Prohibition in 1933, and Mondavi hired Cliff May to build a striking mission-style edifice that was architecturally sleek and unforgettable. That was, by itself, an historic moment, but it was Mondavi's philosophy of producing wines of the highest quality, offerings modeled on the best wines of France, that marked a substantial turnaround for Napa Valley. Yes, there were world class wines made before this, but soon after Mondavi established his marque, there were multiple wineries that opened in Napa Valley which elevated the status of the valley; these wineries included such now-famous names as Sterling, Freemark Abbey, Clos du Val, Shafer, Stag's Leap Wine Cellars and dozens of others. Mondavi's wines, especially his Reserve Cabernet Sauvignons, were rated as among the very best in Napa Valley and all of California. The excitement for these wines inspired other producers to make the best wines possible, and for several years, tastings of Mondavi Cabernet Sauvignons compared to classified growths of Bordeaux were held, with Mondavi's wines rating favorably. Other producers organized these tastings as well; Napa Valley, if anyone doubted, was a source for world class wines. Arch & Tower - Tasting room of Robert Mondavi Winery overlooking the Napa River Photo by Adam Potts Flash forward several decades; as you can imagine, changes were plentiful in Napa Valley in general and for Mondavi in particular; due to a number of conditions; Mondavi sold his winery to Constellation Brands, a large marketer of wine, beer and spirits; Mr. Mondavi passed away in 2008. These two events lead to much speculation that things would be vastly different, with quality being sacrificed. I'm happy to report that Robert Mondavi Winery is doing quite well these days, thank you, with Director of Winemaking Kurtis Ogasawara overseeing production; under his watch, the top wines - Cabernet Sauvignon and Fumé Blanc, especially the reserve bottlings from the historic To Kalon vineyard directly behind the winery in Oakville - are glorious representations of this site, and certainly would make Robert Mondavi himself very proud. Kurtis Ogasawara, Director of Winemaking, Robert Mondavi Winery Copyright Chris Leschinsky 2019 I asked Ogasawara what makes Oakville and especially To Kalon vineyard such an ideal home for Cabernet Sauvignon. 'Oakville's location in Napa Valley, roughly halfway up the valley, makes it a great location for growing Cabernet Sauvignon,' he explains. 'We get enough heat during the day to achieve full ripeness but also receive the influence of the morning fog which helps maintain freshness in our wines. To Kalon Vineyard sits on an alluvial fan on the western side of Oakville. The soils are well draining and encourage stress on the vines that help produce concentrated and intense grapes. 'For our wines, Oakville offers a combination of black and dark red fruit with dried herbs layered in. They have a muscular structure with plenty of tannins that can be extracted in a way that shows finesse and elegance.' Regarding Fumé Blanc, the name Mr. Mondavi used for his examples of Sauvignon Blanc, and the name still used today for the winery's finest examples from To Kalon and other sites in Napa Valley, Ogasawara remarks, 'It's important to create wines that speak to the vineyard they're from. We walk and taste grapes leading up to harvest to understand what the vintage is offering. We pick the grapes at the ideal point where intensity, freshness, and concentration collide. We like our Fumé Blanc to show a balance of fruit intensity and herbs. Each block shows a different personality and it's our job to capture that and let it shine in the glass.' Here are my notes on recent and current offerings of Sauvignon Blanc, Fumé Blanc and Cabernet Sauvignon from Robert Mondavi Winery. (I will review the winery's examples of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir in the near future). Sauvignon Blanc Stags Leap District 2023 (Stags Leap District, Napa Valley) - Bright, medium yellow; aromas of melon, freshly cut grass and spearmint. Medium-bodied, with lovely freshness, very good acidity, textbook varietal purity and good persistence. The finish is clean, refreshing and very appealing. Enjoy over the next 3-5 years. (91) Fumé Blanc The Estates 2021 (Oakville, Napa Valley) - A blend of 87% Sauvignon Blanc and 13% Semillon; the fruit is from a younger block and an older block in the Oakville estate. Bright, medium yellow; lovely aromas of chervil, tarragon, melon and thyme. Medium-full, with an elegant entry on the palate. There is lively, slightly tangy acidity, a rich, clean finish with notes of ginger and white pepper, and outstanding harmony. Displaying outstanding varietal purity and typicity, this is a product of superb fruit from a classic vintage backed by minimal winemaking interference; the result is striking with a definite nod to white Bordeaux. Enjoy over the next 5-7 years. (94) Fumé Blanc The Estates 2022 (Oakville, Napa Valley) - A blend of 87% Sauvignon Blanc and 13% Semillon, all from Oakville vineyards. Bright, medium-deep yellow; enticing aromas of mango, Anjou pear, orange rose and a hint of pine. Medium-full, with excellent ripeness. There is noteworthy texture along with outstanding varietal purity. There is excellent persistence, very good acidity and significant length in the finish, which offers delicate notes of grapefruit, melon and a hint of basil. Wonderful complexity, this is very well made and is quite stylish. Enjoy with Oriental cuisine (sweet and sour pork would be ideal) over the next 5-7 years. (93) Fumé Blanc To Kalon Vineyard 'The Reserve' 2022 (Oakville, Napa Valley) - A blend of 95% Sauvignon Blanc and 5% Semillon; the Sauvignon Blanc is from the Monastery Block and the V Block of To-Kalon. Bright, medium yellow; aromas of basil, broom, freshly cut grass and a hint of tarragon. Medium-full, with bright fruit of impressive ripeness, very good acidity and excellent persistence; there are distinct notes of white spice and chervil in the finish. This has excellent varietal character and would be best paired with strongly flavored shellfish. This is a bit tightly wound now, so time will round out the wine and let it display great harmony. Peak in 3-6 years. (92) Fumé Blanc To Kalon Vineyard 'The Reserve' 2021 (Oakville, Napa Valley) - Bright, medium yellow; textbook varietal aromas of chervil, basil, yellow peppers and hints of gooseberry and lime. Medium-full, with impressive depth of fruit, very good acidity and outstanding persistence. Excellent typicity and a beautiful expression of To Kalon Fumé Blanc. Enjoy over the next five to eight years, although this may drink well in 10-12 years. Brilliant wine! (95) As this is not the current release, it may be difficult to find, but if you want to experience one of the finest releases of Sauvignon Blanc from Napa Valley over the past few years, do what you can to find a bottle. Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 (Napa Valley) - A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (91%), Petit Verdot (5%), Cabernet Franc (3%), Malbec (1%); the fruit is sourced from several Napa Valley districts including Oakville, Stags Leap District, Oak Knoll and Rutherford. Bright, medium deep purple; aromas of black currant, black cherry, mint and black poppy. Medium-bodied, there is very good typicity, well-integrated wood notes, good acidity and appropriate acidity. Nicely balanced, the wine can be enjoyed with most red meats tonight or over the next 3-5 years. A nice value for a Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon at $55. (90) Cabernet Sauvignon The Estates Oakville (Oakville, Napa Valley) - A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (83%), Cabernet Franc (11%), Petit Verdot (2.5%), Merlot (2%) and Malbec (1.5%); most of the grapes come from the To Kalon Vineyard in Oakville behind the winery. Bright, medium deep purple; aromas of black currant, black plum and hints of mace, peppercorn and violet. Medium-full, with excellent ripeness, good acidity, medium-full tannins that are nicely balanced, evident oak notes and very good persistence. This is an impressive wine that is an excellent example of Oakville terroir. Give this another 2-3 years to round out and display greater complexity. Peak in 12-15 years. (92) Cabernet Sauvignon To Kalon Vineyard 'The Reserve' 2021 (Oakville, Napa Valley) - A blend of 94% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot. Bright, medium purple; rich aromas of black currant, black licorice, peppercorn, mocha and graphite. Medium-full, with excellent concentration, very good acidity, well- integrated wood notes, rich tannins and significant persistence. From the outstanding 2021 Napa Valley vintage, there is the stuffing and structure to last for at least 20 years, perhaps even as long as 30 years. A wonderful sense of To Kalon terroir with definite mineral and savory notes in the finish. An exceptional wine that calls to mind the Robert Mondavi Reserve Cabernet Sauvignons of the late 1960s and early 1970s. (96)
Forbes
27-06-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Can Constellation Brands Deliver In Its Next Earnings Report?
CHONGQING, CHINA - JUNE 27: In this photo illustration, the logo of Constellation Brands, Inc. is ... More displayed on a smartphone screen with a blurred version of the company's star-themed branding in the background on June 27, 2025 in Chongqing, China. (Photo illustration by) Constellation Brands Inc. (NYSE: STZ) —most recognized for Modelo Especial, Corona Extra, Pacifico, and Robert Mondavi—continues to be heavily focused on beer as it approaches its fiscal Q1 earnings report (February fiscal year) on Wednesday, July 2, 2025. Analysts anticipate an EPS of $3.33 along with $2.56 billion in revenue, which is a significant decrease from $4.80 and $2.66 billion a year prior—a 31% earnings decline and a 4% sales drop. Historically, STZ has decreased after earnings 60% of the time, with a typical one-day decrease of 3.3% and a maximum drop of 17%. In the fiscal year ending February 28, beer represented 84% of sales, equating to $8.5 billion. The beer segment enjoyed a 40% operating margin, which is double that of wine and spirits. The company's recent divestiture reflects its emphasis on premium products. Sales in the fourth quarter experienced a modest increase of 1% to $2.2 billion, but cost reductions contributed to a 6% boost in operating income. Management has also revised its medium-term revenue growth prediction to 2%–4%, down from 6%–8%. With more than 98% of sales generated in the U.S., emerging tariffs may pressure margins or reduce demand if price increases are required. Notably, the company boasts a current market capitalization of $30 billion. Revenue generated during the past twelve months was $10 billion, with operating profits amounting to $350 million and a net income of $-81 million. For traders focused on events, historical trends might provide an advantage, whether by preparing ahead of earnings or responding to post-release shifts. For those looking for upside with reduced volatility compared to individual stocks, the Trefis High Quality portfolio offers an alternative, having outperformed the S&P 500 with returns surpassing 91% since its launch. Separately, see – What's Happening With BBAI Stock? View earnings reaction history of all stocks. Historical Odds Of Positive Post-Earnings Return Insights on one-day (1D) post-earnings returns: Additional information regarding the observed 5-Day (5D) and 21-Day (21D) returns post earnings is summarized along with the statistics in the table below. STZ 1D, 5D, and 21D Post Earnings Return Correlation Between 1D, 5D, and 21D Historical Returns A relatively lower-risk strategy (though not effective if the correlation is weak) is to comprehend the correlation between short-term and medium-term returns following earnings, identify a pair that exhibits the highest correlation, and execute the appropriate trade. For instance, if 1D and 5D indicate the highest correlation, a trader can position themselves 'long' for the following 5 days if the 1D post-earnings return is positive. Below is correlation data derived from 5-year and 3-year (more recent) historical information. Please note that the correlation 1D_5D pertains to the relationship between 1D post-earnings returns and subsequent 5D returns. STZ Correlation Between 1D, 5D and 21D Historical Returns Discover more about Trefis RV strategy that has outperformed its all-cap stocks benchmark (a combination of all 3, the S&P 500, S&P mid-cap, and Russell 2000), providing strong returns for investors.
New York Times
18-06-2025
- New York Times
Great American Wines That Stand the Test of Time
It's rare to think of American wine in terms of a pantheon. American consumers have always been drawn more to what's flashy and new rather than to established producers who have demonstrated consistent, focused excellence over the long haul. Perhaps that's because few demonstrably great and influential producers have been able to stay the course without changes in ownership that radically altered the character of the wines. Robert Mondavi Winery is one example. With producers like Mayacamas Vineyards, Diamond Creek Vineyards and Heitz Cellar, the changes in ownership have been too recent to fully understand their effect. Who does that leave? I think immediately of Mount Eden Vineyards and Ridge Monte Bello in the Santa Cruz Mountains. In Napa Valley I would single out Philip Togni Vineyard, Spottswoode and Corison, and in Sonoma Valley, maybe Hanzell Vineyards. What about in newer areas with histories stretching back just a few decades? I nominate Littorai. Few growers and producers populated the western Sonoma Coast in 1993, when Ted and Heidi Lemon made their first vintage, 150 cases of chardonnay from the Mays Canyon Vineyard. The incessant fog, the isolation that might require a 90-minute drive to pick up a part and living off the grid made the area too difficult and risky for many. But the Lemons were drawn by the geological diversity. The area they settled on, mostly around the town of Occidental and farther north along the coast, was large and varied with many nooks and crannies. Mr. Lemon, whose training and early career were in Burgundy, was searching for areas in California where he could explore the sort of differing terroirs for chardonnay and pinot noir that he found so intriguing in France. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
San Francisco Chronicle
16-06-2025
- San Francisco Chronicle
This California wine region's coolest tasting room? The visitor center
There are more than 60 wine tasting rooms in the budding Lodi wine region, yet the best stopover is the last place you'd expect: the visitor center. Here, it's not about the decor (minimalist), the vibe (amiable) or even the inexpensive tasting fee (just $12). The main draw is the incredible wine selection: over 200 bottles from more than 70 local producers, most of which don't have their own tasting rooms. Located 35 miles south of Sacramento and long overshadowed by glitzy Bay Area destinations like Napa and Sonoma, Lodi (San Joaquin County) is a quiet farm town with no Michelin-starred restaurants or fancy resorts. The longtime home of the Robert Mondavi Winery-founded Woodbridge, it's historically known as a commodity region; the majority of Lodi's grapes are sold in bulk to California's largest wine companies and often placed on the bottom shelf. But this affordable region is slowly gaining recognition as one that's more diverse and premium than its reputation suggests. The 25-year-old Lodi Wine Visitor Center (2545 W. Turner Road), which is also the only true wine shop in the city, is leading the revival. In the ivy-covered, Tuscan-style building, you can find plenty of Lodi's signature Zinfandel, as well as natural wines, the Greek white wine Assyrtiko and an off-dry Verdelho made by a two-time Lodi mayor. All bottles are under $70. 'You can really come in and visually do a 360 in the tasting room and see how far (Lodi has) come and how many different types of wines there are,' said Stephanie Bolton, the research and education director of the grower-funded Lodi Winegrape Commission, which operates the center. 'Once you walk in the door, that becomes very clear.' Local tourism boards typically operate regional visitor centers, but Lodi is the only California wine region that has a visitor center dedicated exclusively to promoting local wines. It may seem surprising this isn't found in a region overflowing with wineries like Napa Valley, but Bolton believes that would create an overly competitive environment. 'You have to set a lot of fear and ego aside to do something like (this),' she said. Growers, on the other hand, all benefit from the collective effort. In Lodi, there's roughly 80,000 acres of grapes, but only about 85 wineries, and many of those winery owners were growers first, Bolton said. Increased demand for Lodi wines should translate to higher demand, and prices, for the grapes. 'There's a camaraderie and deep-rooted (feeling of), 'We're all in this together,'' said Paul Marsh, the visitor center's manager and wine club director. Founded in 2000, the Lodi Wine Visitor Center is located right off a main thoroughfare next to what many locals refer to as Lodi's 'one nice hotel,' Wine & Roses. The hotel was recently renamed Appellation Lodi – Wine & Roses Resort and Spa as part of a major renovation by celebrity wine country chef and hotelier Charlie Palmer. His new cafe, Maison Lodi, adjoins the visitor center. To establish the tasting room, which welcomes over 20,000 people a year, the Lodi Winegrape Commission had to create a 501(c)(3) educational foundation to secure an Alcohol Beverage Control license to serve and sell wine, recalled executive director Stuart Spencer. When it first opened in the same building as the commission's offices, the wine region had just seven tasting rooms, so the vision was to exclusively highlight wines made from Lodi grapes, including wines produced outside the region. The center still takes this seriously: Jeff Perlegos, co-owner of Perlegos Family Wine Co., said the commission rejected one of his wines because it was only partially made from Lodi grapes. Locals and industry members make up about 40% of the center's annual visitation, said Marsh, a former restaurateur and sommelier with red-rimmed glasses. But for tourists, it's designed to be the first stop on their visit, a sort of concierge that can help them curate an itinerary fit to their specific tastes. 'We have to be the stewards for Lodi right now, especially during this weird, wonky time in the wine business,' said Marsh. 'It's our job to make sure we get that person to that place they didn't know they needed to find.' Part of that stewardship is hiring qualified tasting hosts. '(Marsh) has had success recruiting sommeliers, which provides a very professional style tasting. Sometimes, you go into a tasting room and you just have people pouring the wine and they barely know their own product,' said Jeffrey Farthing, the longtime winemaker for Lodi's Michael David Winery. He sells wines from his small side project, Purple Corduroy, at the center. 'They have had a lot to do with the success of my teeny tiny brand,' he continued, estimating that the wine center sells over 60 cases of wine for him a year, almost as much as his distributor. 'They know me, they've taken the time to get to know me, learn the story of my wines, and they present that to the customer.' Lodi native and second-generation farmer Perlegos said his brand also 'benefits' from the staff's expertise as he works with some unconventional grapes like the Greek Assyrtiko and Sicily's Nero d'Avola. 'Our varieties are very different,' he said. 'They're very knowledgeable and they do a lot of work with the folks that come in there to educate them and show off what's different in Lodi versus other regions.' Wineries like Perlegos are slowly helping debunk the stereotype that Lodi is synonymous with big, high-alcohol red wines — mainly Zinfandel. 'Old Vine Zin is definitely the heartbeat of the area, but so many people are searching out Lodi fruit, not only because of the accessibility of it, but the fact you can do something Italian, Spanish or South African,' said Marsh, pointing to Pinotage, the stigmatized red grape that's most famous in South Africa, as an example. 'Some people are doing incredible Pinotage (in Lodi).' A tasting of four wines costs $12, and Marsh switches up the eight-wine lineup every week. 'The part that gets me is seeing that eyebrow raise. Someone says, 'I only drink Pinot Noir,' and I'll ask, 'When's the last time you had Carignan? Or Cinsault?' And a light bulb pops in their head,' he said. 'Everyone loves that old pair of Levi's that fits perfectly, but every once in a while, you've got to try a new pair of pants on and see if that changes some things.' Those eyebrow raisers have kept longtime local Barbara Rankin coming to the center about every month for the past decade. 'Variety is what I'm after. I want to find a gem,' she said. 'It's the only place to find cool, otherwise unknown wines.' Lodi Wine Visitor Center. 2545 W Turner Road, Lodi.
Globe and Mail
02-06-2025
- Business
- Globe and Mail
Constellation Brands Closes Wine Transaction With The Wine Group to Focus on a Portfolio of Exclusively Higher-Growth, Higher-Margin Brands
ROCHESTER, N.Y., June 02, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Constellation Brands (NYSE: STZ), a leading beverage alcohol company, announced today that it has closed its previously announced transaction with The Wine Group to divest 1 primarily mainstream wine brands and associated inventory, facilities, and vineyards from its wine portfolio. Brands divested to The Wine Group include Woodbridge, Meiomi, Robert Mondavi Private Selection, Cook's, SIMI, and J. Rogét sparkling wine. Constellation's retained wine portfolio consists of a collection of highly regarded wines from top regions around the world, predominantly priced $15 and above. This includes iconic Napa Valley brands Robert Mondavi Winery, Schrader, Double Diamond, To Kalon Vineyard Company, Mount Veeder Winery, and The Prisoner Wine Company; the My Favorite Neighbor family of wine brands from Paso Robles; Kim Crawford from New Zealand—producer of the #1 Sauvignon Blanc in the U.S. 2; acclaimed Tuscan producer Ruffino Estates and Ruffino Prosecco; sought-after gems like Sea Smoke from Santa Barbara's Santa Rita Hills AVA, Lingua Franca from Oregon's Willamette Valley, and more. This outstanding collection is complemented by Constellation's award-winning craft spirits portfolio including High West whiskey, Nelson's Green Brier whiskey, Mi CAMPO tequila, and Casa Noble tequila. 'We are pleased to have completed this transaction and look forward to executing against our repositioned portfolio, focused exclusively on the higher-end that more closely aligns to consumer-led premiumization trends which we believe will enable us to help deliver improved performance within this segment of our business over time,' said Bill Newlands, President and CEO, Constellation Brands. 'We appreciate the dedication of our internal teams, and the support and collaboration from The Wine Group and our business partners to help us close this transaction and seek to ensure as smooth a transition as possible.' Following the completion of the transaction, Constellation's fiscal year 2026 outlook and its outlook for fiscal year 2027 and fiscal year 2028 provided on April 9, 2025 remain unchanged. 1 We sold and, in certain instances, exclusively licensed the trademarks of a portion of our wine and spirits business, primarily centered around our mainstream wine brands and associated inventory, wineries, vineyards, offices, and facilities 2 #1 in dollar sales, Circana, total U.S. Multi-Outlet + Convenience, 52 weeks ended May 18, 2025 ABOUT CONSTELLATION BRANDS Constellation Brands (NYSE: STZ) is a leading international producer and marketer of beer, wine, and spirits with operations in the U.S., Mexico, New Zealand, and Italy. Our mission is to build brands that people love because we believe elevating human connections is Worth Reaching For. It's worth our dedication, hard work, and calculated risks to anticipate market trends and deliver for our consumers, shareholders, employees, and industry. This dedication is what has driven us to become one of the fastest-growing, large CPG companies in the U.S. at retail, and it drives our pursuit to deliver what's next. Every day, people reach for brands from our high-end, imported beer portfolio anchored by the iconic Corona Extra and Modelo Especial, a flavorful lineup of Modelo Cheladas, and favorites like Pacifico and Victoria; our exceptional wine brands including The Prisoner Wine Company, Robert Mondavi Winery, Kim Crawford, Schrader Cellars, and Lingua Franca; and our craft spirits brands such as Casa Noble Tequila and High West Whiskey. As an agriculture-based company, we strive to operate in a way that is sustainable and responsible. Our ESG strategy is embedded into our business, and we focus on serving as good stewards of the environment, investing in our communities, and promoting responsible beverage alcohol consumption. We believe these aspirations in support of our longer-term business strategy allow us to contribute to a future that is truly Worth Reaching For. To learn more, visit and follow us on X, Instagram, and LinkedIn. FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS This news release contains forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements. The word 'expect' and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain such identifying words. These statements may relate to business strategy, future operations, prospects, plans, and objectives of management, including related to executing against Constellation's repositioned wine portfolio, Constellation's efforts to align with consumer-led premiumization trends and to deliver improved performance within its wine and spirits segment over time, the transition of the divested brands and related inventory, facilities, and vineyards, and Constellation's outlook for fiscal years 2026, 2027, and 2028, as well as information concerning expected actions of third parties. All forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those set forth in, or implied by, such forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements are based on management's current expectations and should not be construed in any manner as a guarantee that any of the events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will in fact occur or will occur on the timetable contemplated hereby. All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this news release and Constellation does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. In addition to risks and uncertainties associated with ordinary business operations, the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are subject to other risks and uncertainties, including any purchase price or other post‐closing adjustments, the accuracy of all projections, and other factors and uncertainties disclosed from time-to-time in Constellation Brands' filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended February 28, 2025, which could cause actual future performance to differ from current expectations.
