CONSTELLATION: TOO BIG FOR ITS BRITCHES?

Just how large is Constellation going to get? Napa Valley Register sat down with Chris Fehrnstrom, the new president of Icon Estates, to find out just how far the company wants to go. Chris says there are no new ventures at the moment, but “when Constellation sees a property that makes sense (for inclusion) -- if it's undervalued or it makes sense to be in the portfolio," than they will likely try to acquire it. The wine industry is certainly moving away from the small, fragmented business it once was towards a hugely powerful force in the United States. Beer, spirits, and wine guys are becoming increasingly involved with one another as they compete for the loyalty of American consumers, and the next few years will be important steps for the future of the alcohol business. It will be interesting to see how consolidation will ultimately affect the wine industry, and therefore the entire alcohol industry, and if small-medium wineries will be able to survive.