The name Arterra Wines has come up in discussion in a couple of my blog posts in the past regarding their acquisitions within the wine industry. So, it seems to be a good time to investigate and find out more about Arterra Wines.

According to the Arterra Wines Canada website, their mission is, “To build wine brands people love”. Their origins date back to 1874 when the Niagara Falls Wine Company was founded. In 1994 they became known as Vincor International. In 2006, Vincor was acquired by Constellation Brands, a U.S.-based company that is both a leading international producer and marketer of beer, wine and spirits. Finally, in 2016, the Canadian branch of Constellation Brands was acquired by the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan and became Arterra Wines Canada.

With many iconic and recognized wine brands, Arterra is developing and expanding their wine portfolio to provide Canadians from coast-to-coast with the opportunity to enjoy and experience wines made both in Canada and from renowned wine-making regions around the world.

Arterra owns and operates Wine Rack retail stores in Ontario, as well as sells wine kits and products for winemaking at RJS Craft Winemaking.

Here is the timeline of important events that have taken place throughout the life of Arterra Wines:

1874

• Niagara Falls Wine Company was founded.

1911

• Niagara Falls Wine Company renamed T.G. Bright & Co. Limited.

1975

• Inniskillin is given the first Canadian winery license since 1929 in Ontario, making it the first estate winery in Canada.

1986

• T.G. Bright & Co. Limited acquires Jordan & Ste-Michelle Cellars Limited.

1989

• Don Triggs and Alan Jackson, with a group of employees and investors, purchase Cartier Wines from John Labatt Limited.

1992

• Cartier Wines acquires Inniskillin.

1993

• Jackson-Triggs brand launches.

1994

• T.G. Bright & Co. changes its name to become Vincor International Inc.

2000

• Acquisition of Sumac Ridge, one of B.C.’s first wineries, and See Ya Later Ranch (formerly Hawthorne Mountain Vineyards) in the Okanagan, B.C.

2001

• NK’Mip Cellars Inc. in B.C. becomes first Aboriginal winery thanks to the joint venture with Osoyoos Indian Band and Vincor International.
• Jackson-Triggs Niagara Estate Winery opens.

2003

• Acquisition of Kim Crawford Wines of Auckland, New Zealand.

2005

• Naked Grape brand launches.

2006

• Vincor International is acquired by Constellation Brands.

2009

• Open Wine brand launches in Ontario (and later in B.C. in 2011).

2012

• Vincor International starts operating under the Constellation Brands name.

2013

• Bodacious brand wine launches.

2016

• Constellation Brands is acquired by the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan.

2017

• The name is changed to Arterra Wines Canada.

2019

• Acquisition of Culmina Family Estate Winery in B.C.s Okanagan Valley. 
• After stopping production in 2016, Jordan, Ontario’s Le Clos Jordanne wines were re-established.

2020

• Acquisition of Sandbanks Winery, Prince Edward County, Ontario (see March 8, 2020 post, The Shifting of Sandbanks).
• Acquisition of Tom Gore Vineyards and the trademark rights to Paso Creek, Revolution, Vintage Ink and R.H. Phillips.

2021

• Acquisition of Vin First, a Canadian canning and Tetra™ packaging company, specializing in the beverage alcohol industry. 

2023

• New location for Le Clos Jordanne on Niagara’s Beamsville Bench.
• Acquisition of Angels Gate Winery and Kew Winery, Niagara, Ontario.
• Acquisition of Champagne Palmer of Champagne, France.

How long Arterra Wines remains under the control of the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan and a Canadian corporation remains to be seen. Should ownership become non-Canadian in the future, a significant portion of the Canadian wine industry will hang precariously in the balance; a sobering thought.

Sláinte mhaith