NAPA (April 3rd, 2023) — Family-owned Don Sebastiani & Sons – industry-leading producer of a dynamic portfolio of award-winning wines and wine-based cocktails – announces the company’s landmark transition to a national alignment with the world’s preeminent distributor of beverage alcohol, Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits (Southern Glazer’s), effective April 1, 2023. The completion of the multi-phase transition, which has rolled out over the course of the past two years includes national alignment with Southern Glazer’s in more than 25 markets, including California, Illinois, Florida, and New York. This builds on preexisting Southern Glazer’s distribution representation of the Don Sebastiani & Sons portfolio in Arkansas, Indiana, Louisiana, Nevada, Ohio, Oklahoma, and Texas.
“Our longstanding relationship with the Chaplin and Glazer families began more than 50 years ago with my grandfather and we are proud to continue to grow as fully aligned partners in all domestic markets,” said Donny Sebastiani, Proprietor, Don Sebastiani & Sons. “As a trusted partner and demonstrated leader in scaling consumer brands, Southern Glazer’s is perfectly aligned to expand distribution of our portfolio of award-winning wines, as well as accelerate the momentum we have generated with our fast-growing Flybird agave wine cocktails.”
On the heels of the overwhelming success of Flybird (+42% 13-week growth*), a top performing brand in the emerging wine-based RTD cocktail category (+36% 13-week growth*), Don Sebastiani & Sons seeks to continue market share growth with strategic partners like Southern Glazer’s whose progressive team of talent offers both the bandwidth and the expertise necessary to keep pace with consumer demand and enhance the distribution footprint of Flybird, as well as its popular wine portfolio.
“We are honored that Don Sebastiani & Sons has continued to trust us with their business after a decades-long relationship,” stated Mark Chaplin, Senior Vice President, Sales & Marketing, Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits. “We are excited about the ongoing growth potential of Flybird and look forward to taking Don Sebastiani & Sons portfolio to market across our national footprint.”
Rooted in tradition and driven by innovation, Don Sebastiani & Sons is home to a portfolio of nationally-distributed $10-$20 premium wine brands including, Leese Fitch, Simple Life, Plungerhead, B Side and The Crusher Wines. The company’s legacy tier includes portfolio mainstays, Smoking Loon and Pepperwood Grove. Most recently, Don Sebastiani & Sons has taken stake in the emerging RTD category with Flybird, an innovative portfolio of ready to drink margaritas and cocktails made in Mexico from 100% blue weber agave wine. For more information, visit www.donsebastianiandsons.com.
*Nielsen, Total US xAOC + Liquor Plus + Conv, 13 Weeks, Wine Based Cocktails, 750ml, Period Ending 02/25/23
About Don Sebastiani & Sons
Don Sebastiani & Sons is a family-owned company rooted in the Sonoma Valley, with a winery in the Napa Valley. Since 1904, the family’s adventures have often included making and marketing products complementary to wine. Beginning in 2009, fourth-generation proprietor Donny Sebastiani expanded his family’s vision to include other aspects of the “Mediterranean Diet” to create a “Happy Hour At Home.” Today, in addition to selling more than one million cases of wine annually, Don & Sons imports the wildly popular Flybird Agave Wine Margarita from Jalisco, Mexico. Whether it’s a good meal or a celebration of achievement, the company is devoted to creating meaningful products that enhance life’s special moments and celebrations with family and friends. The company was recently named one of the Best Places to Work by the North Bay Business Journal for the ninth consecutive year. Don & Sons embraces a set of core values that draw upon the family’s history of innovation and expressive winemaking, such as five-star customer service, can-do attitude, and honesty.
