Precept Wine & Spirits has acquired the brand portfolio of Miller Family Wine Company, a California-based producer of Central Coast wines. The acquisition is Precept’s first substantial investment in California.

“The Paso and Central Coast sourcing is very strategic for us,” Alex Evans, chief marketing officer for Precept Wine & Spirits, told Northwest Wine Report. “It doesn’t compete with anything that we currently do within our portfolio nationally. It very much strengthens our private-label platform, and they literally 100% align with customers who are already dear to us in that space.”

Precept’s acquisition includes Miller Family Wine Company’s brand trademarks, finished goods inventory, bulk wine, and private-label business. Butternut is Miller Family’s largest national label. Other labels include J. Wilkes, Ballard Lane, Barrel Burner, Smashberry, Optik, Reciprocity, and Hand on Heart.

“It really is a natural bolt-on to where we’re focused and seeing growth,” Evans said of the acquisition. “A lot of their national portfolio is positioned in the $15 category. They have beautiful wines from their estate vineyards that are positioned more in the $30 to $50 price point, which is an area where we are already positioned in our Northwest portfolio. We’re excited to expand upon that and feel that it’s very timely with premiumization trends.”

The purchase did not include