Industry Issues
Crimson Wine Group acquires Raeburn wine brand
Crimson Wine Group Ltd., owner and operator of premium wineries across the West Coast, announced it has acquired the critically acclaimed Raeburn wine brand from Purple Brands, a prominent California-based wine and spirits company.
Raeburn is a premium wine brand producing approximately 250,000 cases annually. Its wines are distributed in major grocery stores, independent retailers and restaurants throughout the United States.
“The acquisition of Raeburn reinforces our position as a leading fine wine company,” said Jennifer Locke, Crimson CEO, in a statement. “The Raeburn portfolio, rooted in Sonoma County, will significantly increase our market presence and relevance with our retail and on-premise customers through a portfolio of varietals selling in the $15 to $25 retail price points. Raeburn is led by one of the Top 10 largest Chardonnay brands sold domestically, providing Crimson with a proven play in the growing luxury Chardonnay and White Wine categories.”
Effective immediately, the transaction includes certain inventory assets, providing Crimson with a greater scale and adding to its more than 400,000 average cases produced annually. Crimson can execute a rights offering later this year that would allow shareholders an opportunity to further invest in the future of the company, but the move is subject to market conditions and availability of capital on terms acceptable to Crimson.
“This transaction is a win-win for both buyer and seller,” said Derek Benham, Purple Brands’ founder, owner and chairman, in a statement. “It allows us to better focus on and further develop our spirits business, which includes our iconic Redwood Empire Whiskey brand, and gives Crimson a well-known, high-quality wine brand, adding to its rich and respected portfolio. Raeburn has been a tremendous success story and passing it to a dedicated wine group like Crimson ensures the brand’s continued ascent.”
Spirits market maintains share lead, DISCUS reports
During its annual economic briefing, the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States (DISCUS) reported that U.S. spirits maintained its market share lead in 2025, even as the overall beverage alcohol market softened. It noted that spirits ready-to-drink cocktails (RTDs) continued to rise in popularity, emerging as the industry’s strongest growth category.
“While total U.S. spirits sales edged down 2.2% in 2025, the spirits industry remains resilient, driven by innovative products that continue to spark consumer interest,” said Chris Swonger, DISCUS president and CEO, in a statement. “Against a challenging backdrop of weakening consumer confidence and persistent economic pressures, American adults continue to choose distilled spirits, with ready-to-drink cocktails standing out as a clear favorite.”
Swonger shared that spirits supplier sales in the U.S. totaled $36.4 billion in 2025, which was down 2.2% from the prior year, while volumes rose 1.9% to 318.1 million 9-liter cases. The spirits sector maintained its market share lead for the fourth year in a row, reaching 42.4% in 2025. The sector has gained more than 13 points of market share since 2000, with each point representing $860 million in supplier revenue. DISCUS reported that spirit RTD cocktails were a bright spot for the industry, growing to a nearly $4 billion category.
Swonger shared that this was because the beverages are “made with real spirits, offer great convenience and flavor, and include lower alcohol options.” DISCUS also noted that global trade tensions continued to weigh on distillers with factors such as unresolved retaliatory tariff threats, the removal of American spirits from most Canadian retail shelves and broader uncertainty that hinders long-term planning.
Swonger noted that the council’s most recent data showed American spirits exports declined 9% year-over-year (YoY) in the second quarter of 2025. “Reinstating zero-for-zero tariffs on distilled spirits must be a priority to get our American distillers back on a path to growth and prosperity,” Swonger said.
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