December closed out the year with transformative leadership appointments, major portfolio realignments, and groundbreaking policy shifts that reshaped the beverage alcohol landscape. The month was marked by significant CEO transitions at Total Wine, Mark Anthony Group, and RNDC, alongside strategic divestitures from Pernod Ricard and Campari, as major players continued to streamline their portfolios. Below is Park Street University’s full recap of the top stories for the month of December.
Total Wine Announces Ryan Ross as Chief Executive Officer
Total Wine & More, America’s largest independent retailer of fine wine, spirits, and beer, announced that Ryan Ross would join the company as Chief Executive Officer effective January 12, 2026, bringing more than 25 years of experience in retail, e-commerce, and lifestyle brands from leadership roles at Neiman Marcus, Williams Sonoma, and HSN. Owners David Trone and Robert Trone praised Ross’s proven leadership and innovative mindset to lead the company into a new chapter of growth and success, while Ross expressed excitement about joining the organization and bringing a customer-centric mindset to build high-performing teams and guide Total Wine & More into its next era of growth while honoring its culture of partnership and collaboration. (Source)
Jim Beam to Halt Operation at Kentucky Distillery in 2026
Jim Beam planned to halt distillation at its James B. Beam campus in Clermont, Kentucky, for all of 2026, dispersing production between its Booker Noe plant in Boston, Kentucky, and Freddie Booker Noe facility in Clermont while investing in site enhancements, according to Louisville Business First. The production freeze, effective January 1, came amid a surplus of bourbon barrels aging in Kentucky following the industry’s early 21st-century boom that subsequently contracted by over 28% in 2025 through August. (Source)
Campari Sells Averna and Zedda Piras, Raising Over $100 Million
Campari raised over $100 million through the sale of Averna and Zedda Piras to spirits company Illva Saronno as part of the company’s broader strategy to streamline its portfolio, focus on core brands, including Braulio in the amaro category, and support financial deleveraging following the $1.2 billion Courvoisier Cognac acquisition. The deal marked a continuation of Campari’s divestment efforts that included the disposal of its Australian production facility and co-packing business, the sale of Cinzano, and the October sale of Tannico. (Source)
Mark Anthony Group Names First New CEO in 50 Years
Phil Rosse became the second person to hold the CEO position at Mark Anthony Group, succeeding founder and chairman Anthony von Mandl, who stepped down on January 1, 2026. The transition marked what von Mandl described as the moment to “re-found” the company. Rosse, who served as vice chairman and had worked at Mark Anthony Group for 18 years following a decade at Anheuser-Busch InBev, led the group’s US business through substantial growth, with 85% of the company’s one billion cases sold since Mike’s Hard Lemonade launched in 1999 occurring during his 13-year tenure. (Source)
Pernod Ricard Sells Mumm Napa to Trinchero
Pernod Ricard continued streamlining its wine holdings by selling the Mumm Napa sparkling wine business to Trinchero Family Wine & Spirits for an undisclosed sum, with the deal granting Trinchero exclusive rights to manufacture and produce Mumm sparkling wines in the United States and market them across the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and select Caribbean markets while Pernod Ricard retained its Mumm Champagne interests and Perrier Jouet. The transaction, expected to finalize in spring and covering Mumm Sparkling California, Mumm Napa, and DVX brands, transferred ownership of the Mumm Napa destination winery and production facilities in Rutherford, Napa Valley, to the family-owned Trinchero, which would expand its premium portfolio led by Sutter Home and strengthen its position as a significant U.S. wine supplier. (Source)
President Trump Reclassifies Marijuana From Schedule I to Schedule III
President Donald Trump signed an executive order directing federal agencies to complete the rescheduling of marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act, marking one of the most significant developments in federal marijuana policy in half a century by recognizing that marijuana has medical value and lower abuse potential compared to Schedule I drugs like heroin. The directive, which Trump emphasized “doesn’t legalize marijuana in any way, shape or form,” will allow state-licensed marijuana businesses to take federal tax deductions previously denied under IRS code 280E, remove research barriers, and potentially spur additional states to modernize their cannabis policies, while also urging Congress to update the definition of hemp to ensure full-spectrum CBD is accessible to patients under Medicare with no cost. (Source)
RNDC Appoints Marc Sachs as New Chief Executive Officer
Republic National Distributing Company’s Board of Directors appointed Marc Sachs as the company’s permanent President and Chief Executive Officer effective immediately, transitioning from his interim role that began October 17, 2025, with Sachs continuing to serve as a Board member. Sachs brought more than 30 years of leadership experience and nearly two decades with RNDC, advancing through roles including Vice President of Supplier Business Development while strengthening supplier partnerships and driving commercial excellence before joining the company, with his career beginning in advertising leading national campaigns before transitioning to the beverage alcohol industry in 2005 with Block Distributing. (Source)
Ste. Michelle Wine Estates Sold to Wyckoff Family
The Washington State-based Wyckoff family acquired Ste. Michelle Wine Estates for an undisclosed amount on December 4, purchasing the collection of 17 estates from Sycamore Partners, a New York-based private equity firm that had bought SMWE in 2021 for $1.2 billion while retaining ownership of Oregon brands. The acquisition included all of SMWE’s estates, facilities, and inventory in Washington, encompassing individual vineyards like Chateau Ste. Michelle, 14 Hands Winery, and Columbia Crest, with Impact Databank ranking Ste. Michelle as the 10th-largest wine marketer in the US at 5.3 million cases in 2024. (Source)
Anheuser-Busch Confirms Acquisition of BeatBox
Anheuser-Busch InBev confirmed its acquisition of BeatBox in a deal valued at roughly $490 million, with ABI assuming an 85% stake and on track toward 100% ownership in five years through a predetermined pricing formula, marking the seventh brand to join its Beyond Beer portfolio, expected to close in the first quarter of 2026. BeatBox, a wine-based RTD brand launched in 2011 by co-founders Justin Fenchel, Aimy Steadman, and Brad Schultz, experienced astronomical growth from 380,000 cases in 2020 to a projected 12 million cases by the end of 2025, gaining traction with younger drinkers through colorful marketing, nostalgic flavors like pink lemonade and fruit punch, and health- and eco-conscious positioning advertising low carbs and calories in 100% resealable packages. The confirmed transaction came in $124 million lower than the anticipated $700 million valuation reported when rumors first surfaced. (Source)
Michelin Announces New Distinction for Top Wineries
The Michelin Guide announced The Michelin Grape, a new distinction extending its 125-year expertise in celebrating excellence to the world of wine through a rating system of One, Two, or Three Grapes plus a Selected category based on five universal criteria: quality of agronomy, technical mastery, identity, balance, and consistency across multiple vintages. The new distinction, assessed by dedicated wine Inspectors employed by the Michelin Group, including former sommeliers, specialized critics, and winemakers using rigorous methodology and panel review processes, would reward not only vineyards but the people who run them while showcasing knowledge, passion, and innovative techniques. The first Michelin Grapes would be announced in 2026 for Burgundy and the Bordeaux region, two of the most emblematic wine-producing areas in the world, celebrating the diversity, historical significance, and cultural richness of French wine while providing wine lovers with a trusted benchmark for exceptional producers. (Source)