The Golden State Beckons Wine and Beer Investors
May 17, 2012
From software to screwcaps to the vineyards themselves, 46 VC firms have uncorked funding for U.S. companies associated with the Wine and Beer industry, according to the PitchBook Platform. And, that's not even including the angel investors that have gotten toasty with companies like ChurchKey Can. Sopris Capital Associates is one active investor in the industry that's proven it can close boozy rounds with the best of them. The firm has financed a couple wineries, including Napa Valley-based Chateau Potelle Winery. Chateau Potelle is just one of 14 other investments made in California alone, the home base for nearly half of all venture-backed wine and beer-related deals. Tagging behind the Golden State with 36% of the investment activity, New York houses some pretty cool companies too, like hard-to-find wine purveyor L18 Holdings (an Accel Partners portfolio company).
