Constellation Brands International (CBI) and its female-led subsidiary, The Prisoner Wine Company (TPWC), recently expanded their luxury wine portfolio through the strategic acquisition of another female-led brand, Domaine Curry.
Blending ideals
Domaine Curry was co-founded by lifestyle celebrities and sisters-in-law Ayesha Curry and Sydel Curry-Lee. The two dedicated their venture to the women in their family and future generations of women, cultivating and curating bold Cabernet selections with an emphasis on quality. After two years of development alongside an experienced winemaker, their inaugural blend, “Femme 31,” launched in 2015.
At the same time, CBI and TPWC sought to expand their reach and were eager to engage successful viticulture entrepreneurs who emphasized storytelling and community-building. In Domaine Curry, CBI and TPWC saw an opportunity to embrace and develop a uniquely positioned luxury wine that stays true to the companies’ commitment to fostering progressive brands and values, delivering exceptional consumer experiences, and enriching not only shareholders, but employees and communities as well.
Impact beyond the bottom line
CBI’s backbone is wine and spirits, but its heart is its company culture. Fostering an environment where stakeholders feel empowered to let their voices be heard drives the innovation needed to create new experiences that bring people together. Achieving goals with integrity is essential to CBI’s core identity, and part of its success in carving out an ever-growing market share is attributable to its culture of inclusion and diversity in background and thought.
For CBI and TPWC, inclusion is more than a mission statement — the companies are committed to increasing female and minority representation within the industry and plan to invest $200 million in female-founded and minority-owned businesses by 2030.
Forging a partnership with Curry & Curry-Lee following the acquisition of Domaine Curry is the most recent example of CBI and TPWC’s history of expanding the luxury wine landscape through alliances with inclusive and progressive brands.
Wine and ink
Curry & Curry-Lee were enthusiastic to partner with a company that shared their values and created opportunities for women of color in the luxury wine business. With the help of Nixon Peabody’s M&A and Corporate Transactions team, Constellation Brands and Domaine Curry’s founders were able to quickly finalize terms and sign off on the exciting new enterprise. Domaine Curry’s acquisition by CBI became official in late June 2023.
What’s next
Constellation Brands plans to pursue its continued growth through alliances with partners that share the company’s core values and align with its mission to build brands that people love and elevate human connections.
