Experience
Acquisition of Virginia’s RdV Vineyards
Represented the Bouygues family’s winery enterprise, SCDM Domaines, in its purchase of RdV Vineyards in Virginia. SCDM Domaines owns a number of winery holdings in France, including the famed Chateau Montrose. The acquisition of the 93-acre RdV Vineyards winery property in Delaplane, Virginia from Rutger de Vink represents the first investment by a Bordeaux company in an East Coast winery.
Represent Miller Family on Sale of The Silverado Vineyards
Represented the Miller family on the sale of Napa Valley luxury wine producer The Silverado Vineyards to Foley Family Wines. The sale included a 73,000-square-foot winery and 300 acres of vineyards across Napa’s Stags Leap District, Coombsville, and Yountville wine regions.
ACE Cider Sale to Vintage Wine Estate
Represented ACE Cider, The California Cider Company, the top independently owned hard cider brand in the U.S., in its sale to Vintage Wine Estates, Inc.
Far Niente Family of Wineries & Vineyards
Represented Napa Valley luxury wine producer Far Niente Family of Wineries & Vineyards in its acquisition of the Provenance Vineyards real estate in Rutherford, Calif. from Treasury Wine Estates. Far Niente purchased the property as the new home for its Bella Union brand. Farella also advised Far Niente on the concurrent sale of the Provenance brand and inventory to Lodi, Calif.'s Thomas Allen Vineyard & Wines.
Diamond Creek Winery
Represented the family of the late Boots Brounstein on the sale of their Diamond Creek Winery in Calistoga, Calf. to French Champagne producer Maison Louis Roederer.
Valley of the Moon Winery
Represented the Bundschu Company in its acquisition of the 60 acre winery and vineyard property at the historic Rancho Agua Caliente in Glen Ellen, California in Sonoma Valley, the current home of the Valley of the Moon Winery.
First Republic Bank
We assist First Republic Bank with structuring, drafting and negotiating loan documents for its individual and business clients for business acquisition loans, real estate acquisition loans, short and long term real estate term loans, equity and accounts receivable secured personal and commercial lines of credit, real estate construction loans and loans for buy-outs and recapitalizations.
Silicon Valley Bank
We assist Silicon Valley Bank’s premium wine banking group with structuring, drafting and negotiating loan documents for its winery clients in connection with vineyard and winery acquisition and development loans, short and long term real estate term loans, inventory and accounts receivable secured working capital lines of credit, winery construction loans and loans for buy-outs and recapitalizations.
Talbott Vineyards
Represented Talbott Vineyards in its sale to E&J Gallo.
Treasury Wine Estates on Sale of St. Clement
Represented Treasury Wine Estates in its sale of the St. Clement winery to Huneeus Vintners.
Sale of Central Coast California Blossom Hill Winery
Represented Treasury Wine Estates in its sale of Central Coast California Blossom Hill Winery to Delicato Family Vineyards.
Sale of 7 Deadly Wine Brand
Kosta Browne Winery
Represented Kosta Browne Winery in its acquisition of premium California coastal vineyards in Mendocino County's Anderson Valley.
Duckhorn Wine Company
Represented Duckhorn Wine Company on diligence matters relating to its acquisition of Kosta Browne Winery.
Fetzer Vineyards
Represented Fetzer Vineyards in its acquisition of the Excelsior Wine Company collection. The addition to its portfolio of the Excelsior collection positions Fetzer Vineyards as the nation’s leading supplier of South American wines and as the 12th largest wine marketer in the United States.
Anchor Distilling Company
Representation of founder of Anchor Distilling Company in connection with redemptions by Anchor following sale of Anchor Brewing and follow on representation in the establishment of San Francisco-based distilling venture with Berry Bros. & Rudd.
Michael David Winery
Represented Lodi-based Michael David Winery in its purchase of a historic Geyserville winery, tasting room and vineyards from Silver Oak Cellars.
People v. MJA Vineyards, LLC
Representing a Napa vineyard owner in a code violations case for building a wine cave without a permit. Negotiated a favorable civil settlement and avoided criminal charges.
Calera Wine Company
Represented Calera Wine Company in its sale to Duckhorn Wine Company.
Ovid Winery
Represented Napa cult winery Ovid in its sale to the owners of Napa Valley’s Silver Oak and Twomey wineries.
Acquisition of WineBid, Inc.
Represented an investment group led by Third Leaf Partners in its acquisition of WineBid, Inc., the largest online auction for fine and rare wines.
Sale of The Prisoner Wine Company
Represented fine wine company Huneeus Vintners in the sale of The Prisoner Wine Company’s portfolio of brands to Constellation Brands, Inc.
Hop Kiln Winery Acquisition
Serves as outside general counsel for and represented Justin Vineyard & Winery, a subsidiary of The Wonderful Company, in the acquisition of Sonoma’s Hop Kiln Winery in Healdsburg, California. The Hop Kiln Winery is one of the most historically significant agricultural buildings in Sonoma County and had fallen into disrepair under previous ownership. Farella assisted with the acquisition of the property and now leads a team of consultants with expertise in historic rehabilitation. The team was successful in obtaining permission to perform a seismic upgrade and rehabilitation of the historic kiln structure and in obtaining a pending use permit that will allow the owners to move forward with a complete remodel of the interior of the hop kiln structure, as well as the construction of a new winery production facility on the site.
Topete v. Treasury Wines
Defended Treasury Wine Estates Americas Company in a putative class action by all current and former non-exempt employees who worked for the company in California from 2011 through 2016. Plaintiffs alleged Treasury failed to include all non-discretionary incentive pay in the regular rate of pay for overtime purposes; failed to provide second meal periods to its non-exempt employees on shifts over 10 hours; implemented an uneven time-rounding practice; and failed to maintain and issue accurate payroll records. Civil penalties were sought under the Private Attorneys General Act. Without formal discovery, we reached an early mediated resolution of all claims minimizing litigation costs for our client.
Advise Terroir Capital on Sale of Qupé
Circle S Ranch Acquisition
Represented the Read family in its acquisition of Napa’s Circle S Ranch.
Tesseron Vineyards
Represented Tesseron Vineyards, a subsidiary of Chateau Pontet-Canet, in its acquisition of the Robin Williams vineyard estate.
O'Neill Vintners & Distillers
Represented O'Neill Vintners & Distillers in its acquisition of Robert Hall Winery in Paso Robles.
Kenwood Winery Acquisition
Represented Pernod Ricard in its acquisition of the Kenwood Winery.
Stony Hill Vineyard
Represented Stony Hill Vineyard in its sale to Long Meadow Ranch.
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