J.W. Childs Associates buys winery Kosta Browne

J.W. Childs Associates has acquired Kosta Browne, a winery in Sebastopol, Calif. No financial terms were disclosed.

PRESS RELEASE

SEBASTOPOL, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Kosta Browne is pleased to announce a new partnership with investment firm J.W. Childs Associates. For over 17 years, the winery has been very fortunate to have the support of strong financial partners who believed in a shared vision of crafting world-class Pinot Noir.

The Kosta Browne journey began as a dream in 1997 with tip money saved by Dan Kosta and Michael Browne, while working at John Ash restaurant in Santa Rosa, CA. Chris Costello joined the partnership in 2001, providing key business insights and raising capital from friends and family, which provided the necessary resources to improve quality. The Vincraft Group joined as investment partners in 2009, followed by the building of a new winemaking facility at The Barlow and Kosta Browne’s first vineyard acquisition in 2013, with the purchase of twenty acres of Keefer Ranch Vineyard. The J.W. Childs group is a natural fit for the winery’s next chapter, to explore further vineyard acquisitions and investments towards taking wine quality to a new level. The partnership also includes the addition of the CIRQ Pinot Noir brand, crafted by winemaker Michael Browne from two hand-picked estates in the Russian River Valley.

“We are making some of our best wines yet, but still believe we have a long way to go toward achieving our vision for California Pinot Noir,” says winemaker and founder Michael Browne. “I’ve known John Childs for several years, as he was an original investor in our CIRQ Estate, and I know that he and his team share the same passion for our unwavering commitment to quality and investing to support the growth of our business.”

“We are very grateful for Vincraft’s stewardship over the last five years,” says founder Dan Kosta. “Today, we have an incredible opportunity to continue elevating the quality of our wines and our brand. I’m thrilled to continue doing what I love – building relationships and connecting with the many people who have made this journey possible.”

“We believe in what Kosta Browne has built and are thrilled to help them continue their quest,” commented Adam Suttin, J.W. Childs Associates Partner. “We see this as an incredible opportunity and are extremely excited to support this iconic winery.”
Located in downtown Sebastopol, Kosta Browne Winery anchors The Barlow center, an artisan’s marketplace that is home to food producers, wine makers, brewers, distillers and artists.

About Kosta Browne Winery
For over 15 years Kosta Browne has crafted intensely flavored and balanced wines from the finest regions in California, including the Russian River Valley, Sonoma Coast and Santa Lucia Highlands appellations. Kosta Browne’s dedication to quality, stewardship and commitment to customer relationships has propelled the brand to an industry leader, producing some of the most sought after new world Pinot Noirs. To learn more about the winery, please visit: www.kostabrowne.com.

About CIRQ Estate
Michael Browne’s vision for CIRQ first took shape in 2008 when he discovered two new estates in the redwood-studded hills of the Russian River Valley. He made a commitment at that time to develop and farm these sites to produce a single estate Pinot Noir from each. This was done with one goal in mind: to provide enthusiasts with wines of uncommon breeding that delight their senses and connect them to these special places. To learn more, please visit: www.cirq.com.

About J.W. Childs Associates
J.W. Childs is a Boston-based private equity firm focusing on investing in middle market growth companies. Since inception in 1995, J.W. Childs has invested more than $3 billion of equity capital in more than 40 best-in-class companies across the consumer, specialty retail and healthcare industries. The firm’s success has been built on its industry focus and the extensive operating expertise of its partners. To learn more, please visit: www.jwchilds.com.