Bankruptcy filing of large wine producer spells scary time for state of industry...young aren't drinking wine

[BlueWaveNeverEnd]

[Old Crank]

1. Big conglomerate I hadn't heard of

Sounds like they overreached after their IPO. Now will sell the parts off.

Don't know what the industry will do with their overcapacity other than some companies going under.

[ret5hd]

2. i think the "aged by the mile" wine sector is...

doing as well as ever. maybe they just need to shift focus.

[BlueWaveNeverEnd]

3. they provide the wine for 50 brands that I've seen in the stores.

[Auggie]

4. I worked for VWE. They did overreach.

Took on distributing many existing brands regional brands (Sonoma, Washington State, Paso Robles) while introducing several lower-priced lifestyle brands of all style and little substance -- names like Buttery Bomb, Cherry Pie, Walla Walla Bing Bang, Bar Dog.

Cute.

They made the wine promoted by Kevin O'Leary (Shark Tank) and restaurateur Tyler Florence, as well as house brands for grocer HEB like Splendid Oak.

I worked on all of the above.

I get it. They were aggressive, aiming at younger demographics and trying everything. Anything. The Boomers don't drink wine like they used too. The millennials hardly drink at all.

It's far reaching. Companies like VWE are one. Grape growers will be another. Distributors. Farm workers. Trucking. Bottling facilities. Label printers. Glass providers. Cork and closures. Warehousing.

[3Hotdogs]

5. Do they also sell "Gutter-buddy?"

I drink that all the time.

[Auggie]

6. LOL ...

I wouldn’t be surprised