Vintage Wine Estates, Santa Rosa, Calif., has appointed Jeff Nicholson to the new role of chief operating officer. Most recently, Nicholson was an operating partner at AGR Partners. AGR Partners is an investment firm dedicated to food and agribusiness who acquired a minority equity stake in Vintage Wine Estates in April 2018. Nicholson will continue to be on the Advisory Board for AGR Partners.

E. & J. Gallo Winery (Gallo), Modesto, Calif., announced that it has purchased Ledgewood Creek Winery and Vineyard in Solano County.

Foley Family Wines, Healdsburg, Calif., purchased The Four Graces winery, which produces Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris and Pinot Blanc wines in Dundee, Ore.

Originally rooted in Napa Valley, Duckhorn Wine Co. is taking its wine-making expertise to Washington state with the acquisition of a 20-acre vineyard site in the acclaimed Red Mountain American Viticultural Area (AVA).

Precept Wine, Seattle, purchased a Yakima Valley-area vineyard located just south of Red Mountain outside of Benton City, Wash.

New York-based Panache Beverages Inc., which produces Wódka vodka and Alibi American Whiskey, has signed an asset purchase agreement to acquire the Empire Winery and Distillery in Hudson, Fla.

E. & J. Gallo Winery, Modesto, Calif., and Accolade Wines, Napa, Calif., both recently announced brand purchases from Healdsburg, Calif.-based Ascentia Wine Estates.