Acquisition interest from international beverage companies continue while mid-sized private wine companies remain active in making brand and winery investments.

Assessing the value of a wine investment opportunity is the key to a good purchase.

Historically, we tend to think of countries such as France, Italy and Spain as leading producers and consumers of wine. But in fact, the United States overtook France as the world’s leading wine consumer in 2011.

It is becoming increasingly more difficult for small wineries to navigate the business terrain in light of the continued consolidation that is taking place among wholesalers, and the escalating operating-cost structures that have resulted from a supply shortage of grapes and bulk wine.