Sonoma Valley-based Foley Family Wines (FFW) is expanding into the luxury spirits business by launching a distillery operation in Minden, Nevada. The move marks a pivot from a company with more than 20 wineries and vineyard properties, including well-known labels like Silverado, Sebastiani, and Ferrari-Carano.
“Foley Family Wines has been expanding our luxury portfolio of wines since 1996, and we are eager to launch a full range of high-end spirits,” said Shawn Schiffer, FFW president in a statement. “As the demand for spirits continues to grow and the consumer profile evolves, this is a strategic step for us.”
The family-owned California wine company was established in Santa Barbara County in 1996 and has widened to include estates across the state, as well as the Pacific Northwest, Argentina and New Zealand. Founder Bill Foley has earned the reputation as a serial acquirer, and has recently staked a claim to the luxury wine segment. The company went on a buying streak early in the pandemic, swooping up producers Ferrari-Carano, Chateau St. Jean, and most recently, Silverado Vineyards, the leading producer of luxury wines across four Napa Valley appellations, and famously owned by the Disney family. Wine Business Monthly ranked Foley in the number 20 spot in sales volume last year among U.S. wineries, producing nearly two million cases.
Now, the company is taking over the former Bently Heritage Distillery, which shuttered last year. The facility includes an American whiskey and white spirits distillery, housed in a 100-year-old creamery, and an American single malt whiskey distillery housed in a 100-year-old flour mill. Also included in the transaction is the existing inventory of bourbon, single malt whiskey and rye. FFW will produce spirits at the site from locally sourced grains, with operations to begin immediately.
“The Bently family, former owners of the distillery, restored these historic Minden sites to LEED Certification,” said Courtney Foley, second generation vintner at FFW. “Their legacy is in perfect alignment with our family’s commitment to community and sustainability across our vineyards and winery properties.”
The spirits will be available through national wholesale markets and direct to consumer channels. Other family-owned leaders in wine, such as E. & J. Gallo, have built on existing distribution networks to find new opportunities in spirits. Spirit of Gallo was launched last year as a distinct brand to focus on the development of spirits and RTDs, and has found success with leading RTD High Noon.
The distillery also includes multiple tasting areas and will serve as a guest experience center. Minden is an historic agricultural and manufacturing town located in Carson Valley close to the Nevada-California border, not far from South Lake Tahoe’s resorts and outdoor entertainment.
Foley has also expanded into the hospitality and entertainment businesses through Foley Entertainment Group, which includes lifestyle and entertainment holdings in California, the Pacific Northwest and Nevada. The company’s loyalty program, Foley Food & Wine Society, provides a platform for cross-promotion and sales. In Nevada that might include opportunities with the Vegas Golden Knights National Hockey League franchise, of which Foley is governor and CEO.
“I’m very proud of what we’ve accomplished in Nevada,” Foley said in a statement, “and I’m looking forward to introducing our spirits to the marketplace.”
Foley is also executive chairman of the board of directors for Fortune 500 company Fidelity National Financial and Fidelity National Information Services.