R.H.PHILLIPS CLOSES ITS DOORS

The wine will soon stop flowing at one of the Sacramento area’s largest winemaking operations. On September 1 R.H. Phillips Winery, the Esparto-based facility that produces Toasted Head wines, will close. But fear not – the wines will still be available. Production of Toasted Head and R.H. Phillips wines will continue at Woodbridge by Robert Mondavi, located near Lodi. The winery is being shut down by its parent company, Constellation Brands, which also owns the Robert Mondavi Corporation. R.H. Phillips Winery’s 17OO acres of vineyards, in the Dunnigan Hills area of Yolo County, will remain under the ownership of Constellation Brands. R.H. Phillips Winery was founded in 1983 by the husband-wife team of John and Lane Giguiere, along with John’s brother Karl Giguiere. The company was sold in 2OOO to Vincor International Inc., Canada’s largest wine company. Constellation Brands acquired Vincor in 2OO6.