In this article, we are going to discuss the 15 biggest wine companies in the US. If you’re also interested in reading about which companies are producing the most beer, here is our list of the 15 Largest Beer Companies In the World.
Over the last few decades, winemaking has become immensely popular in America as both a business venture and a hobby. When prohibition passed in 1920, the popularity of winemaking plummeted and would stay relatively obscure for half a century. However, the turning point for American wine occurred on May 24, 1976, when some California producers entered their wines in a blind tasting, comparing California wines with French. The judging panel was exclusively French, so it was a shock when Californian wines were ranked the highest in both of the competition categories – Chardonnays and Reds. The results of what became known as the Judgment of Paris were reported in Time Magazine, thus attracting international attention towards premier wines from the Golden State. That year marked the beginning of an American wine renaissance, and today there are over 11,600 wineries in the U.S. that offer an incredibly diverse selection of wines.
Global Wine Market:
Wine is one of the Most Consumed Alcohols in the World. As we mentioned in our article – 20 Best Wine Brands in the World – the global wine market size was valued at $441.6 billion in 2022 and is projected to reach a value of $698.54 billion by 2030, with a CAGR of 5.9% over the forecast period.
Wine is gaining huge popularity among millennials and youngsters, owing to its refreshing appeal and low ABV offerings. The rising demand for premium and luxury wines, increasing consumer awareness about the health benefits of wine, and the growing popularity of wine tourism are some of the key factors driving the growth of the wine market.
According to the 2024 BMO Wine Market Report, the actual dollar sales of all wine sold in the U.S. market reached $107 billion in 2023 – an all-time high. Considering that wine dollar sales in the country were just over $73 billion in 2018, the market has witnessed a staggering increase of 46% in the last few years. The report also indicates that the largest U.S. wine companies account for more than 80% of the overall wine production in the country. Here are the U.S. States that Drink the Most Wine.
Trends of Global Wine Production:
The global wine production witnessed one of the most significant declines in recent history last year. According to the International Organization of Vine and Wine, the overall wine production around the world was estimated at 237 million hectoliters in 2023, a considerable decrease of 9.6% compared to the previous year and the lowest volume since 1961. The OIV stated that the steep decline can be attributed to a confluence of adverse climatic events, including early frost, heavy rainfall, and drought, coupled with widespread fungal diseases.
However, contrary to the global trend, the U.S. produced an estimated 24.3 mhl of wine last year, marking an increase of 8.5% compared to 2022 and further solidifying its position among the Top Wine Producing Countries in the World. The rise in production has been favored by cool temperatures and heavy winter rains in the Napa and Sonoma wine regions of California.
Sustainability in the Wine Industry:
When we talk about sustainable winemaking, it is usually about the entire process and not just the additives at the end. There has been a concerted effort across the entire wine industry to transition towards biodiversity and organic farming. This means no pesticides, herbicides, or synthetic fertilizers, and an all-around effort to promote a variety of plant life in the vineyard. In short – growing grapes in a way that is harmonious with nature. This is an approach that a massive amount of wine producers have now embraced.
Constellation Brands, Inc. (NYSE:STZ) is a leading premium wine company with a widely admired portfolio that includes Woodbridge by Robert Mondavi, Clos du Bois, Blackstone, Estancia, Ravenswood, and more. It was announced last year that the company’s renowned To Kalon Vineyard has achieved organic certification through California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF), the first organic certifying agency in the U.S. Located in Napa’s Oakville appellation, To Kalon Vineyard has been farmed organically for the past four years and meets rigorous standards around the use of renewable resources and conservation of soil and water. This achievement accelerates STZ’s deep commitment to its Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) strategy while improving the health and sustainability of the land for future generations.
The New York-based company made headlines last summer when its Mexican beer brand, Modelo Especial, became the Top-Selling Beer in America after dethroning Bud Light. As a result, Constellation Brands, Inc. (NYSE:STZ) reported a revenue of over $2.12 billion during its last quarter of fiscal year 2024, making it one of the Biggest Wine Companies by Revenue in the U.S.
The U.S. beer industry saw a tough start to the year, given the poor weather conditions in the states. However, STZ’s beer segment, which brought in 82% of its sales in FY 2024, still reported growth of 10.9% during the last quarter. The volume demand continues to grow and the company management stating that Q1 2025 is ‘setting us off on a really solid year’ suggests that they are seeing no major signs of slowdown. And while STZ’s Wine & Spirits segment witnessed a 5.6% decline in Q4, its smaller size minimizes the downside risk. For fiscal year 2024, Constellation Brands generated $2.8 billion in operating cash flow and was able to reduce its net leverage ratio by nearly half a point while returning over $900 million back to its shareholders through quarterly dividends and share repurchases. And although its forward dividend yield doesn’t seem high at 1.51%, the company has both paid and grown its dividends for the last eight years.
Another factor helping STZ is that America’s Hispanic population is growing almost twice as fast as its general population, so brands like Modelo and Corona are expected to stay in high demand. Constellation Brands, Inc. (NYSE:STZ) continues to be one of the Best Alcohol Stocks to Buy Now, with 47 hedge fund holders in Q1 2024 boasting an overall stake value of over $2.74 billion.
With that said, here are the Largest Wine Companies in the U.S. in 2024.
Copyright: gkrphoto / 123RF Stock Photo
Methodology:
To collect data for this article, we have referred to WineBusiness Monthly, looking for the Largest Wine Companies in America. The following companies have been ranked in order of the total cases sold annually by their brands in the domestic market. The list does not include private labeling or custom crush wineries that make wine for others.
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15. Vintage Wine Estates, Inc. (NASDAQ:VWE)
Annual Case Sales in the US: 2 million
Vintage Wine Estates, Inc. (NASDAQ:VWE) is a family of wineries whose singular focus is producing the finest quality wines and incredible customer experiences. The Nevada-based company had a dismal Q3 2024 ending March 31st 2024, when its revenue tumbled by just under 30% to $45.7 million.
The stock of Vintage Wine Estates, Inc. (NASDAQ:VWE) was held by 5 hedge funds in the Insider Monkey database at the end of Q1 2024, with a collective stake value of $768,000.
14. The Duckhorn Portolio, Inc. (NYSE:NAPA)
Annual Case Sales in the US: 2.5 million (WBM estimate)
One of the Largest Publicly Traded Liquor Companies in the US, The Duckhorn Portfolio, Inc. (NYSE:NAPA) makes wines and calls itself a manufacturing company, agricultural company, and marketing company all rolled into one. With a portfolio of 10 high-quality brands, NAPA is a ‘one-stop luxury wine shop’ and the largest pure-play luxury wine company in the U.S. On the 30th of April 2024, The Duckhorn Portfolio, Inc. (NYSE:NAPA) announced the completion of its acquisition of Sonoma-Cutrer Vineyards, one of the largest and fastest-growing luxury Chardonnay brands in America, from the Brown-Forman Corporation.
13. WX Brands
Annual Case Sales in the US: 2.5 million
Established in 1999, WX Brands owns a unique portfolio of wines that includes brands like Bread & Butter, Trapiche, True Myth, Chronic Cellars, Baileyana Winery, and more. To keep up with modern consumer trends, WX Brands recently launched Bread & Butter Sliced, tailored to Gen Z sentiment toward lower-alcohol wines.
12. Bogle Family Wine Collection
Annual Case Sales in the US: 2.5 million
The Bogle wine family has been farming in the Clarksburg, California region for six generations. Their involvement in the wine business spans back 50 years, which is why Bogle wines are high-quality at a great price.
With around 2.5 million cases sold in the US in 2021, Bogle is included among the Most Popular Wine Brands in America.
11. Precept Wine
Annual Case Sales in the US: 3 million
Founded in 2003, Precept is one of the Fastest-Growing Wine Companies in the US. The Seattle-based company owns and maintains nearly 4,000 planted vineyard acres across several states, and boasts a portfolio of brands that includes Browne Family Wine & Spirits, Battle Creek by Browne Family, Gruet, House Wine, Waterbrook Winery, Canoe Ridge Vineyard, Primarius, and Callaway Cellars.
10. Jackson Family Wines
Annual Case Sales in the US: 6 million
Based in Sonoma County, JFW is a family-owned winemaker with a focus on artisanal wines of distinct character and quality. The company owns a multitude of vineyards around the world and has also committed to transitioning all of its US vineyards to regenerative farming practices by 2030.
9. Ste. Michelle Wine Estates
Annual Case Sales in the US: 6 million
Established in 1933, Ste. Michelle Wine Estates is a leading Pacific Northwest winemaker that sustainably farms 2,200 acres of estate vineyards in Washington and Oregon. The company’s portfolio of brands includes Chateau Ste. Michelle, 14 Hands, Col Solare, Rex Hill, and Conn Creek etc.
8. Delicato Family Wines
Annual Case Sales in the US: 6 million
Delicato Family Wines is a fourth-generation, family-owned company that ranks among the Top 10 Winemakers in the US. With brands like Bota Box and Francis Ford Coppola under its belt, Delicato is now also shifting its focus to exports, with the Asian market particularly identified as a significant growth area.
7. Bronco Wine Company
Annual Case Sales in the US: 8 million (WBM estimate)
The California-based Bronco Wine Company celebrated its 50th anniversary late last year, joining a rare group of wine businesses that have been continuously family-owned for over half a century. The company pays special attention to sustainability and all three of its wineries (Ceres, Escalon, Madera) and bottling plant (Napa) hold California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF) Organic certifications.
6. Treasury Wine Estates
Annual Case Sales in the US: 8 million (WBM estimate)
With total sales of almost $1.57 billion in 2023, Treasury Wine Estates ranks among the Largest Alcohol Companies in the World. The company boasts 11,300 hectares of vineyards and wine-making facilities in the best wine regions of the world, and its iconic wines are sold in over 70 countries around the globe.
5. Deutsch Family Wine & Spirits (Josh Cellars)
Annual Case Sales in the US: 13 million
The Josh Cellars wine brand includes eleven varietals and a Reserve collection of wines that come from some of the Golden State’s most prestigious appellations, the North Coast and Paso Robles. Josh was at about 25,000 cases a year when Deutsch Family Wine & Spirits took it on in 2011, with nearly all its volume in the Northeast. The brand hit 150,000 cases in its first full year with Deutsch and then began to double each year. Deutsch bought out the remaining 50% ownership in 2014 as growth began to explode, and now Josh Cellars ranks among the Best-Selling Wine Brands in America.