The reports started Monday with the Wall Street Journal and other national publications, then filtered down to the Courier-Journal.
Brown-Forman Corp. was selling its wine portfolio.
Which, apparently, was wrong.
The Louisville-based alcoholic beverage giant issued a news release Wednesday stating that while it’s reviewing the sale of its Fetzer vineyards, winery and bottling facility and other Hopland, Calif.-based brands – which includes the Little Black Dress varietals – it’s NOT selling Sonoma-Cutrer brand or dumping distribution of Krobel California “Champagnes.”
Which (in our experience) is what happens when reporters call with most of the story, but you elect not to set the record straight.
Brilliantly, the WSJ turned around and ran the BF release under the headline, “Brown-Forman Confirms It Is Mulling Sale of Wine Assets.”
And now you see how the sausage– er, the news – is made.
Here’s the clarification:
Brown-Forman to Explore Strategic Alternatives for Its Hopland, California-Based Wine Brands
LOUISVILLE, Ky.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Brown-Forman Corporation (NYSE:BFA) (NYSE:BFB) announced today that it is exploring strategic alternatives for its Hopland, California-based wine assets, including a possible sale. Included in the strategic review are the Fetzer winery, bottling facility, and vineyards, as well as the Fetzer brand and other Hopland, California-based brands. The strategic review does not include the super-premium Sonoma-Cutrer brand or the company’s long-term agency relationship with Korbel California Champagnes.
“We are still amidst the review process,” said Brown-Forman Chief Executive Officer Paul Varga. “But given the recent media stories, we felt it was important to communicate with our employees and external stakeholders to set the record straight.”
For 140 years, Brown-Forman Corporation has enriched the experience of life by responsibly building fine quality beverage alcohol brands, including Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey, Southern Comfort, Finlandia, Jack Daniel’s & Cola, Canadian Mist, Korbel, Gentleman Jack, el Jimador, Tequila Herradura, Sonoma-Cutrer, Chambord, New Mix, Tuaca, and Woodford Reserve. Brown-Forman’s brands are supported by nearly 3,900 employees and sold in approximately 135 countries worldwide. For more information about the company, please visit http://www.brown-forman.com/.
Brown-Forman not selling Sonoma-Cutrer brand or dumping Korbel sparkling wines
The reports started Monday with the Wall Street Journal and other national publications, then filtered down to the Courier-Journal.
Brown-Forman Corp. was selling its wine portfolio.
Which, apparently, was wrong.
The Louisville-based alcoholic beverage giant issued a news release Wednesday stating that while it’s reviewing the sale of its Fetzer vineyards, winery and bottling facility and other Hopland, Calif.-based brands – which includes the Little Black Dress varietals – it’s NOT selling Sonoma-Cutrer brand or dumping distribution of Krobel California “Champagnes.”
Which (in our experience) is what happens when reporters call with most of the story, but you elect not to set the record straight.
Brilliantly, the WSJ turned around and ran the BF release under the headline, “Brown-Forman Confirms It Is Mulling Sale of Wine Assets.”
And now you see how the sausage– er, the news – is made.
Here’s the clarification:
Brown-Forman to Explore Strategic Alternatives for Its Hopland, California-Based Wine Brands
LOUISVILLE, Ky.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Brown-Forman Corporation (NYSE:BFA) (NYSE:BFB) announced today that it is exploring strategic alternatives for its Hopland, California-based wine assets, including a possible sale. Included in the strategic review are the Fetzer winery, bottling facility, and vineyards, as well as the Fetzer brand and other Hopland, California-based brands. The strategic review does not include the super-premium Sonoma-Cutrer brand or the company’s long-term agency relationship with Korbel California Champagnes.
“We are still amidst the review process,” said Brown-Forman Chief Executive Officer Paul Varga. “But given the recent media stories, we felt it was important to communicate with our employees and external stakeholders to set the record straight.”
For 140 years, Brown-Forman Corporation has enriched the experience of life by responsibly building fine quality beverage alcohol brands, including Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey, Southern Comfort, Finlandia, Jack Daniel’s & Cola, Canadian Mist, Korbel, Gentleman Jack, el Jimador, Tequila Herradura, Sonoma-Cutrer, Chambord, New Mix, Tuaca, and Woodford Reserve. Brown-Forman’s brands are supported by nearly 3,900 employees and sold in approximately 135 countries worldwide. For more information about the company, please visit http://www.brown-forman.com/.