VICTOR, N.Y. – Constellation Brands Inc. announced that it has acquired a minority stake in wine brand Archer Roose.
The investment was made through Constellation’s venture capital group as a part of Constellation’s Focus on Female Founders initiative, which aims to directly increase female representation and access to funding in the industry by investing $100 million in female-led or female-founded companies by 2028.
Marian Leitner-Waldman and her husband, David, founded Archer Roose in 2015 on a mission to democratize wine by introducing consumers to luxury wine in an approachable format. To offer wines from the most renowned regions around the world – from Provence to Casablanca Valley – they created the “Traveling Vineyard” by partnering with small, adventurous winemakers who preserve terroir and approach viticulture with craftsmanship and deep respect for the environment. Driven by the idea of connecting to wine consumers through humor, actress and producer Elizabeth Banks joined the team as an investor and chief creative officer.
“Marian, Elizabeth, and the team have created something truly unique in Archer Roose, making luxury wine distinctively fun and accessible for contemporary consumers who are curious about exploring the category,” said Mallika Monteiro, executive vice president and chief growth, strategy, and digital officer at Constellation Brands. “Their focus on planet-friendly, single serving formats resonates not just with the environmentally conscious values of this new generation of LDA drinkers, but also with consumer moderation trends that we are beginning to see take hold. We believe Archer Roose is well-positioned to grow the category by introducing premium wine to this segment through their welcoming, thoughtful, and honest brand.”
“We founded Archer Roose for a simple reason, we wanted to have a better glass of wine,” said Marian Leitner-Waldman. “Our consumers can discover wine regions and varietals while knowing what to expect from our products: dry, fruit-forward wines that are sustainably made and exceptionally delicious.”
Archer Roose strives to bring consumers high-quality wines in accessible formats that fit their modern lifestyle. Their luxury canned wines are offered in a number of crisp, refreshing varietals including Bubbly, Bubbly Rosé, Rosé, Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc, and Malbec. The brand is currently distributed in 46 states, can be found in major retailers like Kroger, Eataly, and Mariano’s, and will be on shelves in Target this fall. You can also enjoy Archer Roose at new heights through their partnership with JetBlue.
Female-founded companies accounted for only 2% of venture capital investments in 2021, which was the second consecutive year that the number of female-founded companies receiving funding decreased. Analyses show female-founded startups that get funded are more likely to succeed and deliver higher value than male-founded companies. Female-founded companies also hire more women and help close the pay gap.
