Californian winery steps up expansion with acquisition

Californian winery O’Neill Vintners & Distillers has purchased the Robert Hall Winery in Paso Robles for an undisclosed sum, as it steps up its expansion plans.

The wine region of Paso Robles lies within San Luis Obispo County, California (Photo, Wiki)

The acquisition includes the winery, production facility, hospitality facility, vineyards, inventory and wine brands owned by Robert Hall, it confirmed today.

CEO Jeff O’Neill said it had been sourcing grapes from Paso Robles for many years and looked forward to expanding its holdings in the area and building on the legacy of the winery, which was established by Robert Hall and his wife Margaret in 1999. The first vintage was released in 2001.

“We are thrilled to have this opportunity to further expand our presence in one of the most important wine regions in California,” he said. “Paso Robles wines are known for their tremendous quality and Robert Hall Winery has been at the forefront of that movement.”

The sale follows the death of founder Robert Hall in October 2014.

The winery, which has been run by Margaret Hall and the couple’s three daughters since Hall’s death, had won accolades in the US for its “distinctive” wines, specializing in Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Rhone varietals. According to figures from Nielsen, quoted by O’ Neill Vintners & Distillers, the brand has grown +47% in total US sales in the last 26 weeks.

Family-owned winery O’Neill Vintners & Distillers was founded in 2004 and produces wine from the North Coast, Central Coast and Central Valley. In the last twelve years it has grown to become the seventh largest wine producer in California, producing a range of brands including Line 39, Harken, Redtee, Camelot and Flat Rock, as well as its own brandy.