Johnson Brothers, family-owned and operated since 1953, is thrilled to announce the expansion of its distribution of Whitehall Lane Winery’s portfolio into Hawaii, as of July 1. This expansion marks the addition of Hawaii to the existing partnerships in Indiana and North Carolina. Their dynamic portfolio will be managed by Johnson Brothers’ luxury division, Oxford Street Merchants.

Napa’s Whitehall Lane Winery, often hailed as a best-kept secret, is one of the few remaining family-run wineries in the region. Renowned for its welcoming hospitality and honest wines crafted from Cabernet Sauvignon and other Bordeaux grapes, Whitehall Lane offers bottles that create a sense of having a winemaker for a friend.

The Leonardini family, who purchased Whitehall Lane in 1993, continues to uphold traditional values while embracing future advancements. Their investments in new technology, sustainable farming, innovative winemaking, and diversity are pivotal in ensuring the winery remains family-owned for generations.

“We are incredibly excited to continue building our partnership with Johnson Brothers and unlocking growth in the Hawaiian luxury wine category,” said Tom Leonardini II, Proprietor and Vice President, Whitehall Lane Winery. “Throughout the Johnson family’s nearly 40 years operating in Hawaii, they have demonstrated a commitment to executional excellence that we believe will expand brand awareness and deliver growth across the market.”

“We are thrilled to deepen our partnership with the Leonardini family and further expose Whitehall Lane’s exceptional wines to the Hawaiian market,” said Yale Johnson, Vice President of Johnson Brothers, who leads Oxford Street Merchants. “Our two family organizations have a tremendous amount of shared DNA – a commitment to excellence, authenticity, and a passion for quality. We are excited to share this shared commitment with our customers and consumers across Hawaii.”

Johnson Brothers and The Duckhorn Portfolio announced today that they have entered into an expanded distribution agreement, effective August 1. This is the second phase of a comprehensive strategic evaluation of The Duckhorn Portfolio’s wholesale distribution network across the United States, with the goal of driving the profitable growth of sales through a substantial increase in focus and investment in the wholesale channel. Johnson Brothers will begin distribution of The Duckhorn Portfolio’s wines in their new territory later this summer.

“With the recent closing of our Sonoma-Cutrer acquisition, The Duckhorn Portfolio has grown in both scale and scope, and we are now the largest supplier of $15+ wines in the off-premise channel in the United States,” said Deirdre Mahlan, President & Chief Executive Officer and Chairperson of the Company. “Acquiring Sonoma-Cutrer provided an excellent opportunity to evaluate and optimize our distributor network across the United States to strengthen our ability to drive consistent profitable growth and increase shareholder value.”

Recognized as a premier pure-play producer of luxury wine in the United States, The Duckhorn Portfolio includes eleven acclaimed winery brands: Duckhorn Vineyards, Decoy, Sonoma-Cutrer, Kosta Browne, Goldeneye, Paraduxx, Calera, Migration, Postmark, Canvasback, and Greenwing. While the Company has worked with Johnson Brothers in Iowa and West Virginia, the Company’s distributor agreements and new alignment will expand the scope of their relationship. When the transition of territories is complete, the distribution of some or all of the Company’s winery brands will be handled by Johnson Brothers in Hawaii, Iowa, and West Virginia.

“During the process of evaluating our route to market strategy in the US, it became abundantly clear that Johnson Brothers has a highly motivated team and a proven track record of executing our goals,” said Pete Przybylinski, Executive Vice President, Chief Sales Officer of the Company. “We are excited to forge an even stronger relationship between our companies that will provide greater focus on our acclaimed portfolio of wineries while helping us to continue to outpace the market. Equally important, we believe that our enhanced relationship with Johnson Brothers will expand our reach and benefit our retail and consumer customers in Hawaii, Iowa, and West Virginia.”

Johnson Brothers proudly announces its recognition as one of the 2024 Most Trustworthy Companies in America, marking the second consecutive year of this prestigious accolade.

Newsweek, in collaboration with Statista, Inc., a leading provider of market and consumer data, evaluated the business practices and relationships of U.S.-based companies with revenues exceeding $500 million. Among the 50 winners in the food and beverage category, Johnson Brothers stands out as the sole beer, wine, and spirits distributor to be honored.

“This recognition underscores Johnson Brothers’ steadfast commitment to the values that have defined our culture since 1953,” stated Rita Seguin, Chief Human Resources Officer at Johnson Brothers. “Being acknowledged as one of America’s most trustworthy companies reaffirms our dedication to fostering trust with our team members, customers, and supplier partners.”

Click here to view the complete list of America’s Most Trustworthy Companies and learn more about this prestigious honor.