Sebastiani Vineyards & Winery sold to Foley Wine Group

Mary Ann Sebastiani Cuneo, President and CEO of Sebastiani Vineyards & Winery, confirmed on Friday that they have sold their Sonoma, California winery to The Foley Group, headed by William P. Foley II, president of Fidelity National, Inc. (listed as number 435 of the Fortune 500) and owner of several Central Coast wineries and vineyards. His Fidelity National Information Services ranks 481 of the Fortune 500 roster.
Cuneo is the granddaughter of the winery’s founder, Samuele Sebastiani, who started the winery in 1904. Samuele Sebastiani pioneered shipping wine in bulk in railroad tank cars to the East Coast and the winery grew to produce millions of cases of wine per year.
Cuneo said, “All of the family agreed this is a good thing. Everyone can go their own way and do their own thing. We are really happy to sell to an individual and not to a corporate takeover. My brothers, Don and Sam, and I are all pleased. Dick and I will get to spend a lot more time with our grandchildren and maybe even travel for fun.”
Since the Sebastianis sold their Turner Road Vintners in 2000, they have focused on producing ultra-premium wines including cabernet sauvignon, merlot, chardonnay, pinot noir and zinfandel.
Described on his own Web site as “by turns hard-nosed and soft-hearted,” Foley owns Foley Estates Vineyard & Winery, LinCourt Vineyards in the Santa Ynez Valley near Solvang, Firestone Vineyards near Paso Robles with vineyards in the Santa Rita Hills, and Three Rivers Winery in Walla Walla, Washington, as well as Merus (formerly Venge Vineyards) near St. Helena, Altus, and Goodnight Cellars.
Previous rumors offered Gallo, Mondavi and Diagio as Sebastiani suitors. Cuneo discreetly declined to disclose the purchase price, although Wine Spectator magazine reports that Foley is rumored to be paying $47 million for the winery.
With this sale, the Sebastiani-named landmarks in Sonoma all will be owned by people from outside the community: Sebastiani Vineyards & Winery, Sebastiani Theatre, and Viansa (Vicki and Sam Sebastiani). Only Don Sebastiani & Sons, an international wine negociant with offices in Sonoma, will still be owned by members of the family.