Johnson Brothers, a family-owned and operated business since 1953, is excited to announce the expansion of its partnership with Chinola into Hawaii, Iowa, Nebraska, and North Carolina, effective as of July 1. This expansion builds upon an existing relationship in Indiana. The Chinola portfolio will be managed by Johnson Brothers’ luxury division, Oxford Street Merchants.

Chinola produces natural liqueurs made from 100% fresh fruit and neutral cane spirit, offering a unique blend and proprietary formulation that delivers unparalleled taste and versatility. They can be enjoyed on their own or mixed with any base spirit to create top-quality cocktails.

“We are excited to expand our partnership with Johnson Brothers to bring Chinola to four new markets,” said Andrew Merinoff, CEO & Co-founder of Chinola. “Johnson Brothers’ commitment to unmatched customer service makes them the perfect partner to help us share our passion fruit and mango liqueurs with a wider audience. We look forward to a successful collaboration and the continued growth of our relationship.”

Inspired by the Dominican passion fruit, Chinola was crafted in 2014 through a collaboration between hospitality experts, spirit industry professionals, and a master blender. The success of the award-winning Chinola Passion Fruit Liqueur has fueled the launch of their first innovation: Chinola Mango Liqueur. The latest addition to their portfolio continues their tradition of natural, low ABV liqueurs made from 100% fresh fruit with no artificial additives. Chinola is dedicated to authenticity and eco-friendly practices in the production of their liqueurs from farm to bottle.

“Chinola’s commitment to quality and innovation aligns perfectly with our mission to bring exceptional products to our customers,” said Yale Johnson, Vice President of Johnson Brothers, who leads Oxford Street Merchants. “Many of the best accounts in America are featuring Chinola as a key part of their cocktail program and we’re excited to further partner and introduce more consumers to the brand.”

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.”