FROM THE WIRES...
LARKSPUR, Calif., July 1, 2024 — O’Neill Vintners & Distillers has acquired Substance Wines, the highly awarded, top selling Washington brand founded by visionary wine veteran Charles Smith. The acquisition of Substance further strengthens O’Neill Vintners & Distillers offerings in the growing ultra-premium wine segment and represents the first Washington based wine brand in its consumer portfolio.
“For the past 20 years, our focus has been to build a portfolio of great consumer-led brands that appeal to the modern wine drinker,” said Jeff O’Neill, Founder and CEO of O’Neill Vintners & Distillers. “With Substance, Charles Smith has tapped into the ethos of Washington winemaking and built critically acclaimed wines that deliver the essence of Washington’s terroir. We see tremendous opportunity to engage new consumers through this amazing brand and we look forward to crafting future vintages that continue to deliver exceptional quality wines that surprise and delight consumers.”
Introduced in 2015, the Substance brand was conceived by Smith with the goal of producing the best ultra-premium Cabernet Sauvignon in America. Substance wines are crafted using small batch winemaking techniques, including natural fermentations, barrel-aging and bottling unfiltered to deliver exceptional quality. The brand is also known for its transparent approach to how it communicates with consumers, a natural fit with O’Neill’s existing portfolio focused on overdelivering quality, B Corp certified, consumer driven wine brands.
“Our goal from the beginning was to create the finest Washington Cabernet Sauvignon at an amazing price point,” said Smith. “Substance has grown exponentially because of our singular focus on terroir and winemaking protocols. Sustainability focused O’Neill Vintners & Distillers will take this brand to the next level of sales and distribution. It is in great hands for continued success.”
Substance produces Washington appellated wines with an SRP of $14 to $20 including: Substance ‘Cs’ Cabernet Sauvignon, ‘Sb’ Sauvignon Blanc, ‘Pn’ Pinot Noir, ‘Ch’ Chardonnay, ‘Rb’ Red Blend, and the single-vineyard Substance Vineyard Collection. Additionally, Substance was named a 2022 Impact “Hot Prospect Brand” by M. Shanken Communications.
Substance Wines are available at select retailers and restaurants nationwide.
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