Constellation Brands to Acquire The Prisoner Wine Company Brands

Beer and wine giant Constellation this week announced an agreement to acquire five wine brands from California-based Huneeus Vintners.

The purchase of The Prisoner Wine Company portfolio includes the flagship The Prisoner brand, along with Blindfold, Cuttings, Saldo and Thorn.

Constellation, which owns the U.S. distribution rights to Corona, Modelo and other Mexican beer brands, touted The Prisoner as the top "super luxury red blend" and said that its retail sales increased 28 percent since last year.

Terms of the deal, which is expected to close by the end of the month, were not disclosed. Huneeus and Constellation will maintain a winemaking consulting agreement with The Prisoner's current production team.

"These wines resonate with consumers and this acquisition further strengthens our position in the fine wine segment of the category," Bill Newlands, president of Constellation's wine and spirits division, said in a statement.

Constellation also purchased luxury wine brand Meiomi in August and paid $1 billion to acquire San Diego craft brewer Ballast Point in November.

The Wall Street Journal reported that the company's beer sales increased by 22 percent in its latest fiscal quarter. Constellation's Mexican beer brands continue to perform well despite an otherwise stagnant U.S. beer market.