Collaboration with Bundschu Winery and National Sales with Pacific Highway Wines
Jan 28, 2022 (Sonoma, CA and Greensboro, NC) – American music band, The Chicks, today announce their premium wine brand, Gaslighter Wine Co, is available nationally and represented by Pacific Highway Wines. Named after their award-winning album, GASLIGHTER, released in 2020, Gaslighter Wine Co. offers a collection of premium wines with unapologetic expression and individuality from California’s Sonoma County and Napa Valley.
Gaslighter Wine Co is a collaborative premium wine project, created by musicians Martie Maguire, Natalie Maines, and Emily Strayer. Known as The Chicks, the three band members are involved in every aspect of the Gaslighter wine project, from the naming, messaging, and eye-catching packaging design, to partnering with the Bundschu Company team for the ongoing sourcing, winemaking, and final blending decisions.
Martie Maguire explains, “Natalie, Emily and I have always loved great wine! Through close relationships with some Sonoma California friends, we were offered the chance to do a partnership with the Gundlach Bundschu family. Many wine samples and bottle designs later, we are finally so proud to be offering our Gaslighter Rose’, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir and Cabernet to our families, friends, fans and discerning wine lovers!”
Four wines will comprise The Gaslighter Wine Co. portfolio and two are available nationally for Spring 2022.
- Gaslighter California Rosé of Pinot Noir (SRP $25) – available national wholesale and DTC
- Gaslighter Sonoma Coast Sauvignon Blanc (SRP $25) – available national wholesale and DTC
- Gaslighter Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir (SRP $65) – available DTC only/Fall 2022 release
- Gaslighter Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon (SRP $140) – available DTC only/Late 2022 release.
Gaslighter wines are sourced from the Bundschu family’s estate vineyards along with selected grower partners across Sonoma County and Napa Valley, and the wines are produced and bottled at Bundschu’s winery in Sonoma Valley.
“From the early days of this project, my family has been excited to work with The Chicks,” states Katie Bundschu, 6th generation vintner and Chief Marketing Officer of Bundschu Company. “Their clear vision for the brand, along with their creativity, quality standards and intentional approach to winemaking closely mirrors our own values. The Chicks have been part of each step with us, from sourcing decisions to wine style and ultimately determining the final blends.”
Gaslighter California Rosé of Pinot Noir is crafted whole cluster, direct-to-press, offering a pale salmon hue with aromas and flavors of strawberry, rose petal and cantaloupe with mineral notes and bright acidity. Gaslighter Sauvignon Blanc from the Sonoma Coast is light and refreshing, with citrus and tropical fruit notes. Gaslighter Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir from Carneros and Russian River Valley exudes red cherries, dried cranberries, forest floor and vanilla notes. Gaslighter Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon showcases exceptional mountain fruit from a single vineyard at the peak of Howell Mountain in Napa Valley, with 20 months on 60% new French oak.
Pacific Highway Wines is tapped to manage national distribution and broad market sales across retail and restaurants, with the immediate availability of Gaslighter California Rosé of Pinot Noir 2020 (SRP $25) closely followed in March 2022 by the national release of Gaslighter California Rosé of Pinot Noir 2021 (SRP $25) and Gaslighter Sonoma Coast Sauvignon Blanc 2021 (SRP $25).
Mark Giordano, President of Pacific Highway Wines, enthused “We are incredibly proud to have been selected and are more than ready to launch and grow Gaslighter across the US market. The partnership, talent, packaging, and wine quality together are simply outstanding!” Giordano continued, “Our go-to-market approach is to be nimble, collaborative and fast. We have a bullish forecast for calendar year ’22 and onwards.”
About The Chicks
The Chicks are Martie Maguire, Natalie Maines and Emily Strayer. Superstars, renegades, innovators, heroes, villains, and moms, they have grown from a band into a cultural phenomenon. Since the release of their debut album, WIDE OPEN SPACES in 1998, The Chicks’ music has stirred emotions in fans around the world, making them one of the biggest and most influential bands of our time. Earning universal recognition as the biggest-selling U.S. female band of all time, The Chicks have sold more than 30.5 million albums and are among an elite group of acts to achieve multiple “diamond” selling (10 million copies) releases. After 14 years, The Chicks released their fifth studio album, titled GASLIGHTER, which hit No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart upon release in 2020. Gaslighter Wine Co. launches nationally in early 2022.
About Bundschu Company
For six generations, Sonoma’s family-owned Bundschu Company has been producing quality wine and creating dynamic experiences. Since 1858, the company has operated with wine at the center of everything they do and has embodied the belief that quality wine need not be divided from experience, but that one enhances–and connects–the other. Since then, the multigenerational company has deliberately grown a curated portfolio of wineries and brands that each uniquely embody that spirit, including Gundlach Bundschu, Abbot’s Passage, Towle Wine Company, and Huichica Music Festival. While the Bundschu Company honors the family’s legacy, the quest for the future by cultivating a diverse business at the intersection of top-tier wine and experiences, investing in innovation and sustainable practices, and championing the next generation of diverse leaders.
About Pacific Highway Wines
Pacific Highway Wines is a specialized import, sales, and marketing agency headquartered in Greensboro, NC. Owned jointly by New Zealand’s Giesen family and Australia’s Oatley family, the Pacific Highway portfolio showcases over 30 independent brands and projects from across the globe. Offerings span from the most coveted wine regions of California and Oregon to regional benchmark import offerings from Argentina, Australia, Chile, France, Italy, New Zealand, Spain, and Uruguay. The portfolio delivers category leadership in regional premium wine, innovative NO/Low-Alcohol offerings, Alternative Formats, and Certified Organic and Sustainable offerings. Mark Giordano (President) leads the business with support from an Executive Team, Operations, Finance, Marketing and Sales Teams.
