GREAT GROWTH FOR GRUET

PRECEPT WINE in Seattle is partnering with Gruet Winery in New Mexico. The terms of the deal were not disclosed. Gruet, which began with the 1987 vintage, produces about 125,OOO cases of wine per year, most of which is sparkling. Gruet, once a novelty because the wine was created via the Methode Traditionelle from grapes grown in New Mexico, has now grown into a nationally distributed brand using grapes not only from New Mexico, but also California and Washington. The company’s roots go back to 1952, when Gilbert and Danielle Gruet launched Gruet et Fills, a Champagne house in France. In the early 198Os, the family was traveling through the American Southwest and met a group of European winemakers who had planted grapes near Truth or Consequences, New Mexico, 17O miles south of Albuquerque. The family decided to stake a claim and their children, Laurent and Nathalie, moved to the United States and began planting grapes in vineyards at 43OO feet in elevation. Their first harvest was in 1987, and the first wines – 2OOO bottles – were released two years later. They now make nearly a dozen styles of sparkling wine, including four vintage bottlings, ranging from $12 to $43. They also produce three still wines – a Chenin Blanc, Pinot Noir and Syrah. With this partnership, Precept Wine said it plans to keep everything in place at Gruet. Laurent Gruet will continue as the head winemaker in Albuquerque, and Nathalie Gruet will remain at the helm of the brand. By adding Gruet to its portfolio, Precept Wine will grow to 1.3 million cases produced, with annual revenues of about $83 million expected this year.