SND: Acquisition of Sonoma’s Ram’s Gate Winery by O’Neill Vintners & Distillers

Jeff O’Neil’s wine business that is growing, known for its value brands, is branching out into a luxury division

The wine company in California, O’Neill Vintners & Distillers, is kickstarting a new luxury branch by purchasing a winery in Sonoma. According to Shanken News Daily (SND), the company, which ships out 1.8 million cases, has bought Ram’s Gate Winery in Sonoma for a sum that hasn’t been disclosed. Ram’s Gate is famous for its high-end Pinot Noir and Chardonnay costing from $45 to $150 per bottle, its wines regularly earn 90-plus scores from the Wine Spectator.

Ram’s Gate will now join the extensive roster of brands under O’Neill, this includes Line 39, Harken Chardonnay, Rabble Wines, Charles Woodson’s Intercept, FitVine Wine, Robert Hall Winery, Allegro Cellars, BrandyLab and Javelin Vodka.

Situated slightly atop the San Francisco Bay at the entrance to the wine country of Sonoma, Ram’s Gate holds a 125-acre organic estate and at present, produces around 8,000 cases a year. “We’ll look at a gradual expansion,” said the founder and CEO of O’Neill, Jeff O’Neill in an interview with SND, “but only if there are vineyards that are genuinely world-class. We’re here to establish a benchmark in Sonoma County for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.”

O’Neill has been an investor in Ram’s Gate since its launched in 2011, and was in charge of the winery for the initial few years prior to shifting his focus on the broader O’Neill Vintners & Distillers venture. Now he is incorporating Ram’s Gate into this framework, making it the first brand in a newly formed luxury division. The new division will be managed by industry experienced personnel Maeve Pesquera, who was recently a senior V.P. with Paso Robles-based Daou, which was bought in the previous year by Treasury Wine Estates for almost $1 billion.

O’Neill asserts his intentions of making more purchases in the luxury sector. “We are of the firm belief that there is an incredible opportunity in Paso,” he mentioned. “Those wines consistently deliver high quality. There are some exceptional vineyards. We are in possession of a few of them at present, but we are seeking to expand our portfolio.”

In a more generalized context, O’Neill states that in spite of “a large number of people forecasting the decline of the industry, we harbor a quite optimistic outlook about the industry’s future, but it’s not below $10.” This is due to the fact that the new generations exploring this sector are not beginning at lower price brackets, as was the case in the past, according to him. “These youthful individuals, they’re considering entry-level as twenty dollars. So, I reckon we just need to be aware of the fact that the industry’s evolving.”

For more updates on the wine industry, check out Shanken News Daily.

About the Author: Chris Lehoux

Meet Chris Lehoux, an experienced wine connoisseur and dedicated blogger with a deep passion for all things wine-related. With years of expertise in the industry, Chris shares insightful wine reviews, valuable wine tasting tips, expert pairing advice, and captivating tales of vineyard visits. Join Chris on a journey through the world of wine, where every sip is an adventure waiting to be savored!