Wine Group, The

Based in Livermore, California, The Wine Group (TWG) is the second-largest wine producer by volume in the world, behind E. & J. gallo and just ahead of constellation. Privately owned and relatively secretive about its financial affairs, it boasts among its brands Concannon, established in 1883 in livermore by Irish immigrant James Concannon and the first to bottle Petite Sirah as a stand-alone varietal in the US. TWG’s considerable market clout, however, comes from the jug and boxed California wine juggernauts Franzia and Almaden; the moderately priced Cupcake bottled line; and Big House, which it purchased from Randall Grahm of Bonny Doon in 2006.