A Santa Rosa winery, Wine Hooligans, known for brands like Portlandia and Cycles Gladiator, has been acquired by Bronco Wine Co. at auction. Minority shareholders are now attempting to buy back the winery’s assets, claiming the auction process was flawed.
Bronco Wine, which gained a majority stake in Wine Hooligans two years ago, initiated the auction due to alleged debt defaults. The sale comes amid challenging market conditions for wine, with Bronco also announcing winery closures and layoffs.
Wine Hooligans’ minority shareholders argue that their higher bid was rejected and that Bronco’s new management contributed to the company’s financial struggles. They’re now seeking to regain control of the winery, which produces approximately 200,000 cases of wine annually.
The acquisition by Bronco follows a period of financial difficulty for Wine Hooligans, with the shareholders alleging a lack of support from Bronco-appointed board members.
