The year 2012 was a robust one for the wine industry with two headlines dominating the winery transaction environment: the return of publicly traded beverage companies to the marketplace, as evidenced by Constellation Brands’ acquisition of Mark West, and the entry of foreign beverage companies into the United States’ market, as illustrated by Accolade Wines’ acquisition of Geyser Peak and Atlas Peak. Additionally, wine sourcing concerns led to rampant searches for vineyard acq...