C. Mondavi & Family acquired the French Blue brand from Flying Blue Imports. It’s the first step in the company’s plan to benefit from imported wines, which made up 28% of the wine purchased in the U.S., according to Gomberg-Fredrikson.
“We are excited to take this step to expand our portfolio in the import space. We believe strongly in the future of our wine brands even in the midst of a year affected by COVID-19. French Blue is a great brand with excellent wines from Bordeaux, and we feel they have great potential.” said Judd Wallenbrock, CEO at C. Mondavi & Family.
The initiative to import French Blue is a strategic new step for C. Mondavi & Family, a family business that began over 100 years ago and has developed into one of the most iconic names in American wine. This will be the first time that the group has ventured outside California for any of the wines in its portfolio, marking a move that will likely attract a new set of consumers from around the country.
“The addition of French Blue to our lineup is incredibly important for us, as it will bring our wines to an audience of drinkers who normally reach for imported wines. French Rosé continues to grow strongly in the U.S., and French Blue can compete with anyone in that category,” notes David Brown, Senior Vice President of Sales at C. Mondavi. “The past four months have forced us to innovate in a number of different ways, and this will be one of the many steps we take to remain at the forefront of the industry.”