We are pleased to announce that Metis served as the transaction advisor on the recapitalization of Ken Wright Cellars, one of the founding names in Oregon Pinot Noir, in its new partnership with the Gussalli Beretta family and their wine holding company, Upifra Agricole.
Ken arrived in the Willamette Valley in 1986 and has spent four decades becoming one of the first names in American Pinot Noir as one of Oregon’s most acclaimed winemakers. The Beretta family recently celebrated their 500th year as a family-owned enterprise, under 15 consecutive generations of family leadership. They are deeply invested in wine, having built a group of seven quality-focused Italian wineries, including Lo Sparviere in Franciacorta, Fortemasso in Barolo and Castello di Radda in Chianti Classico. Ken Wright Cellars is their first winery investment outside Italy. The outcome is a true partnership, with the Beretta family acquiring a substantial stake, while Ken continues to lead the company as CEO, Winemaker, and majority partner of the operating company.
What we are most proud of is how well the two families fit. Ken wanted ‘a partner who thinks generationally,’ and one who would value the talent of the team he had built. The Berettas sought a proven operator who shares their commitment to place and craft. Each of their Italian wineries keeps its own team and identity, and Ken Wright Cellars will too. We are deeply gratified to have helped recapitalize the remarkable enterprise Ken built alongside one of the oldest family-owned businesses in the world, establishing a partnership for these families for generations to come.
We invite you to read the full story here from Wine Spectator, as well as our case study about the transaction, which explains how we structured a partnership that brings in a generational investor while keeping the founder, the team, the vineyards, and the trade and consumer relationships in place. As always, we welcome the chance to talk with you about the market and how we may be of service.
