Acquisition of Bottom Line Ranch Significantly Expands Company’s Central Coast Estate Holdings
NAPA VALLEY, Calif. – May 3, 2022 – The Duckhorn Portfolio, Inc. (NYSE: NAPA) (the “Company”) announced today that it has acquired the 289-acre Bottom Line Ranch in the San Miguel District sub-appellation of the Paso Robles AVA. Planted exclusively to 265 acres of Cabernet Sauvignon, the vineyard features seven top clones on three drought-tolerant rootstocks. With this investment in Paso Robles, the Company has established a significant estate footprint on California’s Central Coast, which already includes Calera winery’s 82 acres of estate vineyards on Mt. Harlan. The purchase will help provide the Company with access to high-quality Cabernet Sauvignon for years to come and support continued growth for its Decoy and Postmark wineries.
Bottom Line Ranch is located in the San Miguel District AVA, near the borders of both the Estrella and Adelaida districts. Situated on the slope of the Santa Lucia Range, the San Miguel District features a Region III climate that is ideal for producing world-class Cabernet Sauvignon. The 289-acre property was planted to six blocks totaling 218 acres of Cabernet Sauvignon in 2014, with 12 more acres planted in 2015, and a final 35 acres established in 2018.
“This acquisition follows our long-term strategy of supporting our wineries with robust Estate holdings,” said Alex Ryan, the CEO and president of The Duckhorn Portfolio. “Adding Bottom Line Ranch’s 265 acres of Cabernet Sauvignon to our estate program will provide us with exceptional grapes for both Decoy and Postmark, while cementing our commitment to the Central Coast. There is a reason why Paso Robles has the most Cabernet Sauvignon acreage of any appellation in California outside of Napa Valley. In addition to producing phenomenal Cabernet Sauvignon, the Paso Robles winemaking community has done a fantastic job of building global awareness for the region and its wines. Putting down roots in this acclaimed region is an important next step in our long-term vision.”
“For a Cabernet Sauvignon-focused vineyard of its size, location, vine age, and quality, Bottom Line Ranch is a rare find,” said Vice President, Central Coast Winegrowing PJ Alviso. “In terms of row orientations, rootstocks and clonal selection, it has great fundamentals.” To maximize the quality of the vineyard’s Cabernet Sauvignon, the site’s farming will be overseen by The Duckhorn Portfolio’s in-house viticulture team and acclaimed Vineyard Manager Randy Heinzen and his company Vineyard Professional Services. Heinzen also farms Calera’s estate vineyards on Mt. Harlan and was the former Vineyard Manager at Beckstoffer Vineyards.
The Company plans to rename the vineyard in the coming months. Financial details for the acquisition were not disclosed.
About The Duckhorn Portfolio
The Duckhorn Portfolio is North America’s premier luxury wine company, with ten renowned wineries, eight state-of-the-art winemaking facilities, seven beautiful tasting rooms and over 1,100 coveted acres of vineyards spanning 24 Estate properties. Established in 1976, when legendary vintners Dan and Margaret Duckhorn founded Napa Valley’s iconic Duckhorn Vineyards, today, our portfolio features some of North America’s most revered wineries, including Decoy, Paraduxx, Goldeneye, Migration, Canvasback, Calera, Kosta Browne, Greenwing and Postmark. Sourcing grapes from our own Estate vineyards and the finest growers in Napa Valley, Sonoma County, Anderson Valley, California’s North and Central coasts, and Washington State, we offer a curated and comprehensive portfolio of acclaimed luxury wines with price points ranging from $20 to $200 across more than 15 varietals and 30 appellations. Our wines are available throughout the United States, on five continents, and in more than 50 countries around the world. To learn more, visit us at: https://www.duckhornportfolio.com/.
