Another Sonoma County winery has been sold to a wine industry behemoth.
According to North Bay Business Journal, Benziger Family Winery and Imagery Winery have been sold, for an estimated $70-80 million, to the Wine Group.
The Wine Group is based in Livermore. They make Franzia boxed wine and other big box wines such as Cupcake.
Staff members will be employees of The Wine Group and a shuffle of management leads to new titles for long-time employees and family members: “Mark Burningham, who has worked with the family for almost 30 years, will take over as general manager of North Coast operations. Chris Benziger, Mike Benziger’s brother, becomes vice president for trade relations at Benziger. Joe Benziger, another brother, remains winemaker for second label Imagery,” reports to North Bay Business Journal.
Read more about the sale here.
Glen Ellen can expect a PRMD application shortly for a mega-event center, wedding venue, shopping “experience,” film festival, rock concert site and whorehouse. Ah, well, even the good guys cash in if the money is right. Mikey — we hardly knew ye.