Renowned Wine Maker Tony Rynders to Join Forces with Bacchus
SAN FRANCISCO, May 15, 2013 – Bacchus Capital Management, LLC, a San Francisco-based private equity firm providing strategic capital in the wine industry, has acquired the Oregon winery Panther Creek Cellars and has appointed acclaimed winemaker Tony Rynders as Panther’s Consulting Winemaker.
“I have been making wine in Oregon for nearly 20 years,” commented Tony Rynders, Consulting Winemaker at Panther Creek Cellars. “This winery has a storied history and I am eager to build on that legacy. I look forward to crafting our own examples of the exceptional regional blends Oregon is known for: Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris and, most recently, Chardonnay. I have always enjoyed the creativity of making wine. The chance to be a part of Panther Creek’s next chapter and to work with a team of proven and committed professionals is an exciting opportunity.”
“Bacchus is focused on supporting talented winemakers and on building a portfolio of unique and highly differentiated properties,” stated Sam Bronfman, Bacchus Co-founder and Managing Partner. “We believe that the Pacific Northwest is an outstanding winemaking region, offering winemakers diverse environments to craft unique and admirable wines. We are proud to partner with individuals regarded both as pioneers
and leaders in their field. Working with Tony Rynders and the team at Panther continues to support our mission and round out our ‘string of pearls’.”
“Our private equity model is unique,” commented Peter Kaufman, Bacchus Co-founder and Managing Partner. “We do not have one singular black box approach to investing in wineries. Rather, we invest in businesses and winemakers we believe in; our capital is flexible, enabling us to participate at any point in the capital structure; in the case of Panther Creek, it is an outright acquisition. Additionally, we continue to leverage our internal talent across the portfolio: we’ve appointed Oregon veteran Anthony Van Nice,
working with us at Wine by Joe, as President at Panther Creek to partner with the highly-lauded winemaker Tony Rynders. Our goal is to develop customized long term partnerships.”
Bacchus portfolio companies include: Andretti Winery, a well-known Napa winery founded by Mario Andretti; DeLille Cellars, the renowned Washington state winery co-founded by acclaimed winemaker Chris Upchurch; Madrigal Family Winery, a recognized Napa Valley winery located on Highway 29; Maritime Wine Trading Collective, a leading boutique wine import, production, and distribution company; Qupé, a leading
Central Coast winery; Sbragia Family Vineyards, the Dry Creek Valley winery founded by world-class winemaker Ed Sbragia; Wine by Joe / Dobbes Family Estate, one of the largest wine producers in Oregon. Bacchus previously had a successful financing with Cameron Hughes Wine, one of America’s fastest growing wine businesses.
About Panther Creek Cellars
Located in the heart of the Willamette Valley in McMinnville’s historic power station, Panther Creek Cellars has been producing signature Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris and Chardonnay wines since 1986. Founded by the acclaimed winemaker Ken Wright, Panther Creek has been recognized for its signature blends as well as single vineyard designate wines. The winery has been credited by Robert Parker as “producing some of Oregon’s most concentrated and age worthy wines.” From 2013 onward, the Panther Creek wines will be made by the highly acclaimed Tony Rynders.
For more information, visit www.panthercreekcellars.com
About Bacchus Capital Management
Bacchus Capital Management is an investment firm providing strategic capital and making equity investments in United States wineries and wine businesses.
For more information, visit www.bacchuswinefund.com
CONTACT: Hilary Peck of Bacchus Capital Management, (212) 486-3600, ext. 125, hpeck@bacchuswinefund.com
