E. & J. Gallo Winery (Gallo) announced today that it has purchased Germain-Robin. The California luxury brandy was established in 1982 by Ansley J. Coale Jr. and Hubert Germain-Robin, pioneers of the category.

Gallo’s acquisition includes the Germain-Robin brand, the inventory of aged and aging brandies and all finished goods. These inventories include brandy lots that are over 30 years old, crafted from a broad range of traditional Cognac and Armagnac grape varieties, as well as non-traditional varietals such as Pinot Noir and Zinfandel.

“It is a privilege to be entrusted with the stewardship of Germain-Robin’s California brandy legacy,” says Ernest J. Gallo, general manager of Gallo’s Spirits Business. “We are fortunate to have Ansley Coale and Joseph Corley, Hubert apprentice and current Germain-Robin distiller and cellarmaster, remain involved as part of the acquisition. We are pleased to continue delivering remarkable and unique California brandies that will appeal to whiskey and bourbon drinkers and other connoisseurs of brown spirits around the world.”

“For decades, Germain-Robin has struggled to place brandy distilled from California wine where it belongs: a category, long overlooked, in fact worthy of inclusion at all levels among the world’s finest spirits,” says founder Coale. “We hope — indeed intend — that our unique knowledge and capabilities, supported and augmented by, and carefully integrated into, Gallo’s deep experience and powerful resources in both production and marketing, will help bring brandy from California wine the recognition it so richly deserves.”

International Wine Associates served as the exclusive financial advisor for Germain-Robin. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.