“On the negative — the wine is homogenized, for the most part. It’s very same-y. There isn’t a whole lot of room for vintage variation, expression of terroir/land, or experimentation from the winemaker. Generally these wineries are all about cost savings, and much less about green — none of the big guys are winning legit praise for responsible wine production that mitigates impact. As I’ve discussed before, it’s a lot of sustaina-BULL-ity — voluntary programs that have squishy requirements aren’t great.”
From our friends at “Wine for Normal People”.
Brands Owned by Big, Corporate Wineries: The Master List To Check If Your Brand is Independent or Part of a Big, Hulking Winery
NOTICE: This post has been updated but I know Google has this indexed so you’ll see this first! Here’s a link to the most recent list.
I talk about the business of wine all the time and people are always asking: How do I know if the brand I like is made from an independent winery or a big hulking winery?
Estimates are all over the board in terms of how much market share the big guys have in the US (sorry in advance to our international friends, this is just a list for the US), but between 13{5fc40a96f14c4a6aa4c2a32569b0a57dcc67c0b31eb04c341474283f11b6cdd2} – 50{5fc40a96f14c4a6aa4c2a32569b0a57dcc67c0b31eb04c341474283f11b6cdd2} of the wine market is dominated by the top 10 wine companies. From my experience, it’s closer to 50{5fc40a96f14c4a6aa4c2a32569b0a57dcc67c0b31eb04c341474283f11b6cdd2} than 13{5fc40a96f14c4a6aa4c2a32569b0a57dcc67c0b31eb04c341474283f11b6cdd2}. There are advantages and disadvantages to buying from the big guys.
On the plus side — consistent quality, consistent availability, and lower prices. You will almost always get the same taste out of a bottle and these wines will always be on the shelves. The prices will be decent, although I don’t think they usually provide VALUE, which I define as better than what it costs.On the negative — the wine is homogenized, for the most part. It’s very same-y. There isn’t a whole lot of room for vintage variation, expression of terroir/land, or experimentation from the winemaker. Generally these wineries are all about cost savings, and much less about green — none of the big guys are winning legit praise for responsible wine production that mitigates impact. As I’ve discussed before, it’s a lot of sustaina-BULL-ity — voluntary programs that have squishy requirements aren’t great.
But back to the original question — how do I know if the brand I like is made from an independent wintery or a big hulking winery? Well, I finally put together a list of some of the top wine companies and their brands. It includes the big guys: Constellation Wines, E&J Gallo, Diageo, Kendall-Jackson, The Wine Group, Bronco Wine Company, Trinchero, Delicato, and Treasury Wine Estates. Chateau Ste. Michelle from Washington rounds out the top 10, but all its wines are branded Chateau Ste. Michelle, so it’s pretty transparent.
The list below was taken directly from these companies corporate sites — I didn’t just pull it out of my a$&.
Consolidation is always going on, so this will change year to year, but for now, you can use this as a guide to see if your favorite brand is an independent or part of a corporate giant.As a caveat, many of the brands that have Bronco listed next to them are owned by independent wineries. But Bronco does all the distribution, which means they get the wine into our hands many times by paying incentives and distributor allowances that companies not affiliated with a middle-man this large could never afford to do. You need a certain revenue stream and scale to work with Bronco. So although these companies make their own wine, in their own style, I still think they are part of the reason some smaller shops get less attention in the market. They lay somewhere between independent and owned.
The list is in alphabetical order by brand. Hope this helps! I bet more than a few of you will be surprised at the list…
| Brand | Owned By (or with Bronco, Distributed By) |
| 1749 by Pierre Chainier | Bronco Wine Company |
| A By Acacia | Diageo |
| A Mano | The Wine Group |
| Abel’s Tempest | Treasury Wine Estates |
| Acacia Vineyard | Diageo |
| Alakey Soju | Bronco Wine Company |
| Alamos® | E&J Gallo Winery |
| Albertoni Vineyards | Bronco Wine Company |
| Albino Armano | The Wine Group |
| Allure Winery | Bronco Wine Company |
| Almaden Vineyards | The Wine Group |
| Almaviva | Diageo |
| André® | E&J Gallo Winery |
| Angel Cove | Treasury Wine Estates |
| Angove Nine Vines | Trinchero |
| Angove Red Belly Black | Trinchero |
| Annie’s Lane | Treasury Wine Estates |
| Archetype | Diageo |
| Arrowood | Kendall-Jackson |
| Atalon | Kendall-Jackson |
| Avissi Prosecco | Trinchero |
| Baileys of Glenrowan | Treasury Wine Estates |
| Ballatore® | E&J Gallo Winery |
| Bandit | Trinchero |
| Barefoot Bubbly® | E&J Gallo Winery |
| Barefoot®Cellars | E&J Gallo Winery |
| Baron des Chartrons | Bronco Wine Company |
| Bartles & Jaymes® | E&J Gallo Winery |
| Beaulieu Vineyard | Diageo |
| Bell Wine Cellars | Bronco Wine Company |
| Bella Sera® | E&J Gallo Winery |
| Beringer Vineyards | Treasury Wine Estates |
| Big House | The Wine Group |
| Bivio Italia | Bronco Wine Company |
| Black Stallion Estate Winery | Delicato |
| Black Swan® | E&J Gallo Winery |
| Blackstone Winery | Constellation |
| Bodegas Palacio | Bronco Wine Company |
| Boho Vineyard | The Wine Group |
| Bold Vine | Delicato |
| Boone’s Farm® | E&J Gallo Winery |
| Bota Box | Delicato |
| Brady Vineyard | Bronco Wine Company |
| Brazin | Delicato |
| Bridlewood® Estate Winery | E&J Gallo Winery |
| Brophy Clark | The Wine Group |
| Brovida Cordara Winery | Bronco Wine Company |
| Brumaio Organice Vineyards | Bronco Wine Company |
| Bryon Estates | Kendall-Jackson |
| Burgundy Estates | Diageo |
| Butterfly Kiss | Diageo |
| Calina | Kendall-Jackson |
| Cambria | Kendall-Jackson |
| Canandaigua Winery | Constellation |
| Cardinale | Kendall-Jackson |
| Carlo Rossi® | E&J Gallo Winery |
| Carmel Road | Kendall-Jackson |
| Carmen | Trinchero |
| Carmenet Winery | Bronco Wine Company |
| Carrara | Bronco Wine Company |
| Casarsa | The Wine Group |
| Cask & Cream® | E&J Gallo Winery |
| Castello di Gabbiano | Treasury Wine Estates |
| Cedar Brook Winery | Bronco Wine Company |
| Cellar No. 8 | Treasury Wine Estates |
| Chalone Vineyard | Diageo |
| Chateau de la Roche | Bronco Wine Company |
| Chateau Laroque | The Wine Group |
| Chateau Lassegue | Kendall-Jackson |
| Chateau St. Jean | Treasury Wine Estates |
| Cherry on Top | Diageo |
| Chockstone | The Wine Group |
| Cipressi | Bronco Wine Company |
| Clarendon Hills | E&J Gallo Winery |
| Clay Station | Delicato |
| Clos de l’Oratoire des Papes | Bronco Wine Company |
| Clos de Nouys | Bronco Wine Company |
| Clos du Bois Winery | Constellation |
| Coastal Ridge Winery | Bronco Wine Company |
| Coastal Vines Cellars | Bronco Wine Company |
| Coldstream Hills | Treasury Wine Estates |
| Colores del Sol | Treasury Wine Estates |
| Columbia (WA) | E&J Gallo Winery |
| Concannon Vineyard | The Wine Group |
| Congress Springs Winery | Bronco Wine Company |
| Contemassi | Bronco Wine Company |
| Corbett Canyon | The Wine Group |
| Corner 50 Winery | Constellation |
| Cosme Palacio | Bronco Wine Company |
| CottonWood Creek Cellars | Bronco Wine Company |
| Covey Run (WA) | E&J Gallo Winery |
| Crane Lake Cellars | Bronco Wine Company |
| Crème de Lys | Diageo |
| Cupcake Vineyards | The Wine Group |
| Curtis Winery | Bronco Wine Company |
| Dancing Bull® | E&J Gallo Winery |
| Darcie Kent | The Wine Group |
| DaVinci | E&J Gallo Winery |
| DC&E | Diageo |
| Delicato | Delicato |
| Devil’s Lair | Treasury Wine Estates |
| Domaine Laurier Winery | Bronco Wine Company |
| Domaine Napa Winery | Bronco Wine Company |
| Domino Wines | Delicato |
| Don Miguel Gascon | E&J Gallo Winery |
| Doña Paula | Trinchero |
| Doña Sol Winery | Bronco Wine Company |
| Down Under Cellars | Bronco Wine Company |
| Drylands Winery | Constellation |
| Dunnewood Vineyards | Constellation |
| Dynamite Vineyards | Diageo |
| E. & J. ® Brandy | E&J Gallo Winery |
| Ecco Domani® | E&J Gallo Winery |
| Edmeades | Kendall-Jackson |
| El Furioso | Bronco Wine Company |
| Emma Pearl | Treasury Wine Estates |
| Ensemble | Diageo |
| Ernst Gouws & Co | Bronco Wine Company |
| Estancia Estates Winery | Constellation |
| Estrella River Winery | Bronco Wine Company |
| Etude | Treasury Wine Estates |
| Evohé | Bronco Wine Company |
| Fairbanks® | E&J Gallo Winery |
| Falcone Family Vineyards | Bronco Wine Company |
| Familia Camarena Tequila | E&J Gallo Winery |
| Fat Cat Cellars | Bronco Wine Company |
| Fifth Leg | Treasury Wine Estates |
| Filus Winery | Bronco Wine Company |
| Finca el Origen | Bronco Wine Company |
| First Press | Delicato |
| FishEye Winery | The Wine Group |
| flipflop | The Wine Group |
| Fog Head | Delicato |
| Folie á Deux | Trinchero |
| Forest Glen Winery | Bronco Wine Company |
| Foxhorn | The Wine Group |
| Franciscan Oakville Estates | Constellation |
| Franzia | The Wine Group |
| Fre | Trinchero |
| Freemark Abbey | Kendall-Jackson |
| Frei Brothers® | E&J Gallo Winery |
| Gallo® Family Vineyard ® | E&J Gallo Winery |
| Gassier Winery | Bronco Wine Company |
| Ghost Pines® | E&J Gallo Winery |
| Gibson Vineyards | Bronco Wine Company |
| Glen Ellen | The Wine Group |
| Glorioso | Bronco Wine Company |
| Gnarly Head | Delicato |
| Gonzales Winery | Constellation |
| Gran Vino Sanson | Bronco Wine Company |
| Grand Cru Vineyards | Bronco Wine Company |
| Great Western | Treasury Wine Estates |
| Greg Norman Estates | Treasury Wine Estates |
| Hacienda Cellars | Bronco Wine Company |
| HandCraft | Delicato |
| Haraszthy Family Cellars | Bronco Wine Company |
| Harlow Ridge Winery | Bronco Wine Company |
| Hartford Family Winery | Kendall-Jackson |
| Heemskerk | Treasury Wine Estates |
| Helfrich | The Wine Group |
| Herding Cats | The Wine Group |
| Heritages Winery | Bronco Wine Company |
| Hewitt Vineyard | Diageo |
| Hogue Cellars | Constellation |
| Hornsby’s | E&J Gallo Winery |
| Igardi | Bronco Wine Company |
| Inglenook Winery | The Wine Group |
| Ingoldby | Treasury Wine Estates |
| Inniskillin Okanagan Winery | Constellation |
| Irony | Delicato |
| Italian Casarsa | The Wine Group |
| Jackson Triggs Estate Winery | Constellation |
| Jade Mountain | Diageo |
| Jamiesons Run | Treasury Wine Estates |
| Jargon | Trinchero |
| Jarhead Wine Company | Bronco Wine Company |
| JFJ Winery | Bronco Wine Company |
| Joel Gott | Trinchero |
| Kallfelz | The Wine Group |
| Kendall-Jackson Wine Estates | Kendall-Jackson |
| Killawarra | Treasury Wine Estates |
| Kim Crawford Winery | Constellation |
| King Fish | Delicato |
| La Boca Winery | Bronco Wine Company |
| La Crema | Kendall-Jackson |
| La Fleur Renaissance | Bronco Wine Company |
| La Jota | Kendall-Jackson |
| La Marca | E&J Gallo Winery |
| Landaluce | Bronco Wine Company |
| Las Rocas® | E&J Gallo Winery |
| Laurier Vineyards | Bronco Wine Company |
| Le Clos Jordanne | Constellation |
| Le Lapin | Bronco Wine Company |
| Leo Buring | Treasury Wine Estates |
| Les Hospices | Bronco Wine Company |
| Les Moirets | Bronco Wine Company |
| Liberty Creek® | E&J Gallo Winery |
| Lindeman’s | Treasury Wine Estates |
| Little Boomey | Trinchero |
| Livingston Cellars® | E&J Gallo Winery |
| Lock & Key | Trinchero |
| Lokoya | Kendall-Jackson |
| Loredona | Delicato |
| Louis M. Martini® | E&J Gallo Winery |
| MacMurray Ranch® | E&J Gallo Winery |
| Maglieri | Treasury Wine Estates |
| Main Street Winery | Trinchero |
| Maison de Grand Esprit | Treasury Wine Estates |
| Mark West | Constellation |
| Martĩn Cõdax® | E&J Gallo Winery |
| Masked Rider Winery | Bronco Wine Company |
| Maso Canali® | E&J Gallo Winery |
| Masseria del Fauno | Bronco Wine Company |
| Massimo | Delicato |
| Mattie’s Perch® | E&J Gallo Winery |
| Matua Valley | Treasury Wine Estates |
| McWilliam’s® | E&J Gallo Winery |
| Medrano Estate Vineyards | Bronco Wine Company |
| Menage a Trois | Trinchero |
| Meridian | Treasury Wine Estates |
| Metala | Treasury Wine Estates |
| MG Vallejo | The Wine Group |
| Mildara | Treasury Wine Estates |
| Mirassou® | E&J Gallo Winery |
| Mission Bell Winery | Constellation |
| Mogen David | The Wine Group |
| Montecillo | The Wine Group |
| Monterra | Delicato |
| Montevina Winery | Trinchero |
| Monthaven | The Wine Group |
| Monti Guidi del Carmine | Bronco Wine Company |
| Montpellier Vineyards | Bronco Wine Company |
| Montresor Winery | Bronco Wine Company |
| Morassutti | The Wine Group |
| Motos Liberty Cellars | Bronco Wine Company |
| Murphy Goode | Kendall-Jackson |
| Naked Earth Organic Wine | Bronco Wine Company |
| Napa Cellars | Trinchero |
| Napa Creek Winery | Bronco Wine Company |
| Napa Landing Winery | Bronco Wine Company |
| Napa Ridge Napa Valley | Bronco Wine Company |
| Navarro Correas | Diageo |
| New Amsterdam® Gin | E&J Gallo Winery |
| NewHarbor | Diageo |
| Newman’s Own | Trinchero |
| Niagara Cellars | Constellation |
| Nk’Mip Cellars | Constellation |
| Nobilo Winery | Constellation |
| Noble vines | Delicato |
| Oak Leaf | The Wine Group |
| Oratoriao Gigondas | Bronco Wine Company |
| Orogeny | Diageo |
| Osoyoos Larose | Constellation |
| Pacific Oasis Vineyards | Bronco Wine Company |
| Paso Grande | Bronco Wine Company |
| Patianna Organic Vineyards | Bronco Wine Company |
| Paul Masson | The Wine Group |
| Peñascal Estate | Bronco Wine Company |
| Penfolds | Treasury Wine Estates |
| Pepperjack | Treasury Wine Estates |
| Peter Vella® | E&J Gallo Winery |
| Picket Fence Vineyards | Bronco Wine Company |
| Pierre Chainier Sparkling | Bronco Wine Company |
| Pinot Evil | The Wine Group |
| PKNT Winery | Bronco Wine Company |
| Plaza Real | Bronco Wine Company |
| Pol Rémy | Bronco Wine Company |
| Pölka Dot® | E&J Gallo Winery |
| Poor Bob’s Wine Company | Bronco Wine Company |
| Provenance Vineyards | Diageo |
| Quail Ridge Winery | Bronco Wine Company |
| Quintessence | Bronco Wine Company |
| Rancho Sisquoc Winery | Bronco Wine Company |
| Rancho Zabaco® | E&J Gallo Winery |
| Ravenswood Wineries | Constellation |
| Red Bicyclette® | E&J Gallo Winery |
| Red Rock Winery® | E&J Gallo Winery |
| Red Truck Winery | Bronco Wine Company |
| Redwood Creek® | E&J Gallo Winery |
| Redwood Vineyards | Bronco Wine Company |
| Richard Grant Estate | Bronco Wine Company |
| Rigal Winery | Bronco Wine Company |
| Ritzman | Bronco Wine Company |
| Robert Hall Winery | Bronco Wine Company |
| Robert Mondavi Winery | Constellation |
| Robertson’s Well | Treasury Wine Estates |
| Roc de Chateauvieux | Bronco Wine Company |
| Rock Hollow Wines | Bronco Wine Company |
| Rose “N” Blum | Diageo |
| Rosemount Estate | Treasury Wine Estates |
| Rosenblum Cellars | Diageo |
| Rothbury Estate | Treasury Wine Estates |
| Rouge Homme | Treasury Wine Estates |
| Rusack Vineyards | Bronco Wine Company |
| Rutherford Vintners | Bronco Wine Company |
| Sacred Hill | Diageo |
| Salmon Creek Cellars | Bronco Wine Company |
| Saltram | Treasury Wine Estates |
| San Telmo | Diageo |
| Santa Ana | The Wine Group |
| Santa Barbara Collection | Treasury Wine Estates |
| Santa Carolina | Bronco Wine Company |
| Santa Dorotea Winery | Bronco Wine Company |
| Sbragia Family Vineyards | Treasury Wine Estates |
| Scoudouc Winery | Constellation |
| Seaglass | Trinchero |
| Seaview | Treasury Wine Estates |
| Sebeka® | E&J Gallo Winery |
| Secret Stone | Treasury Wine Estates |
| Secreto | Bronco Wine Company |
| See Ya Later Ranch | Constellation |
| Seppelt | Treasury Wine Estates |
| Seven | The Wine Group |
| Sheffield Cellars® | E&J Gallo Winery |
| Silver Birch | The Wine Group |
| Silver Ridge Vineyards | Bronco Wine Company |
| Simi Winery | Constellation |
| Sledgehammer | Treasury Wine Estates |
| Snap Drago | Diageo |
| Sonoma Junction | Diageo |
| Souverain | Treasury Wine Estates |
| Squealing Pig | Treasury Wine Estates |
| St Clement | Treasury Wine Estates |
| St Huberts | Treasury Wine Estates |
| Stags’ Leap Winery | Treasury Wine Estates |
| Starborough™ | E&J Gallo Winery |
| Stark Raving | Diageo |
| Stellina de Notte | Diageo |
| Sterling Vineyards | Diageo |
| Sterling Vintner’s Collection | Diageo |
| Stone Barn | Delicato |
| Stonehead Cellars | Bronco Wine Company |
| Stonestreet | Kendall-Jackson |
| Sumac Ridge Estate Winery & Vineyard | Constellation |
| Sutter Home | Trinchero |
| Sycamore Lane | Trinchero |
| Ted the Mule | Bronco Wine Company |
| Tempra Tantrum | The Wine Group |
| Tenuta di Arceno | Kendall-Jackson |
| Terra d’Oro | Trinchero |
| Terra Robles Winery | Bronco Wine Company |
| Terramia Winery | Bronco Wine Company |
| TGallant | Treasury Wine Estates |
| The Naked Grape | E&J Gallo Winery |
| The Show | Trinchero |
| Thousand Oaks | Bronco Wine Company |
| Tierra Brisa Winery | Bronco Wine Company |
| Tierra Secreta | Treasury Wine Estates |
| Tisdale Vineyards® | E&J Gallo Winery |
| Tollana | Treasury Wine Estates |
| Tribuno | The Wine Group |
| Trinchero | Trinchero |
| Trinity Oaks | Trinchero |
| Turner Road Vintners Wineries | Constellation |
| Turning Leaf® | E&J Gallo Winery |
| Twisted | Delicato |
| Uppercut | Diageo |
| Valley of the Giants | Treasury Wine Estates |
| Ventana Vineyards | Bronco Wine Company |
| Verite | Kendall-Jackson |
| Veuve du Vernay Sparkling | Bronco Wine Company |
| Viña Mayor | Bronco Wine Company |
| Whitehaven® | E&J Gallo Winery |
| Wild Hare Winery | Bronco Wine Company |
| Wild Horse Winery | Constellation |
| Wild Vines® | E&J Gallo Winery |
| William Hill Estate™ | E&J Gallo Winery |
| Wily Jack | Diageo |
| Wolf Blass | Treasury Wine Estates |
| Woodbridge Winery | Constellation |
| Wycliff® Sparkling | E&J Gallo Winery |
| Wynns Coonawarra Estate | Treasury Wine Estates |
| Yangarra | Kendall-Jackson |
| Yarra Ridge | Treasury Wine Estates |
| Yellowglen | Treasury Wine Estates |
| Zibibbo | Trinchero |