B. R. Cohn Winery

B. R. Cohn Winery is a winery in Glen Ellen in California's Sonoma Valley. Its identity is closely associated with Olive Hill Estate Vineyards, a property acquired by music-industry manager Bruce Cohn in 1974. Cohn was known for managing the California rock band the Doobie Brothers, and he developed the site around a grove of historic Picholine olive trees reported to be approximately 145 years old at the time of the winery's early development. Before establishing a winery under his own name, Cohn sold grapes from the property to other producers for several years. The B. R. Cohn winery was founded in 1984, with Helen Turley serving as its first winemaker. The estate's vineyards are planted primarily to Cabernet Sauvignon, supported by varieties including Pinot Noir, Zinfandel, Petite Sirah, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, and Malbec. Syrah has been offered through the tasting room, while Chardonnay is sourced from the Carneros region. The winery's portfolio has included Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, rosé, port, Petit Syrah, and other wines associated with Sonoma and the North Coast. Its early Olive Hill Cabernet Sauvignons received substantial critical recognition: the 1985 and 1986 vintages were reported as having been ranked by Wine Spectator among the top ten wines in the United States and the top fifty worldwide, each receiving a score of 94 points. The 2003 vintage was reported to have received 93 points. B. R. Cohn's North Coast Petit Syrah was also named one of two red sweepstakes winners at the 2007 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition. The business expanded beyond wine during the 1990s into artisan olive-oil production. Its specialty-food range has included both flavored and unflavored olive oils, including an organic variety, as well as balsamic vinegars and related gourmet products. The winery has produced vinegar on site from Cabernet, Chardonnay, and sparkling wines. Its stated production method uses the French Orleans process, in which a portion of mature vinegar, sometimes called the mother, is introduced into fresh wine before extended aging in oak barrels. The reported aging period is approximately 18 to 22 months. The portfolio has also included flavored products such as pear Chardonnay vinegar and raspberry champagne vinegar, together with imported balsamic vinegars from Modena, Italy aged for 12, 15, and 25 years. Like many Sonoma wineries, B. R. Cohn has operated a public tasting room and wine club and has hosted weddings and other private or public events. Ownership changed in 2015, when Vintage Wine Estates acquired the winery. Vintage Wine Estates later sought Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in July 2024 and announced plans involving the sale of its assets, including B. R. Cohn Winery. In late 2024, Adair Family Wines took over B. R. Cohn and four other sister wineries. The available reference material does not establish the winery's current production scale, distribution footprint, leadership team, or detailed post-acquisition strategy.

B. R. Cohn Winery developed from a vineyard property in Glen Ellen, Sonoma Valley, acquired by Bruce Cohn in 1974. Cohn had a career managing the California rock band the Doobie Brothers, but his winery venture centered on agricultural land known as Olive Hill Estate Vineyards. The property included a grove of old Picholine olive trees, described in the reference material as approximately 145 years old. During the first phase of ownership, Cohn sold grapes to other wineries rather than producing wine under his own label. Cohn established B. R. Cohn Winery in 1984. Helen Turley was the winery's first winemaker, a role that connected the young label with a winemaking figure who later became well known in California wine. The estate's planting program emphasized Cabernet Sauvignon, while also including Pinot Noir, Zinfandel, Petite Sirah, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, and Malbec. Syrah was associated with tasting-room sales, and Chardonnay was grown in the Carneros region. The resulting portfolio included Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, rosé, port, and other varietal wines. The winery's early Olive Hill Cabernet wines became important markers of its reputation. The 1985 and 1986 vintages were reported as being ranked by Wine Spectator among the top ten wines in the United States and the top fifty in the world, with each receiving 94 points. The 2003 vintage was reported at 93 points. In 2007, the North Coast Petit Syrah received further attention when it was named one of two red sweepstakes winners at the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition. During the 1990s, B. R. Cohn broadened its business into olive oil and specialty foods. It produced flavored and unflavored olive oils, including an organic offering, and added balsamic vinegars and other gourmet products. Vinegar was made at the property from Cabernet, Chardonnay, and sparkling wines. The winery described its process as the French Orleans method: a starter quantity of mature vinegar is added to fresh wine, after which the liquid is aged in oak barrels for roughly 18 to 22 months. Products included pear Chardonnay and raspberry champagne vinegar, as well as imported Modena balsamic vinegars carrying 12-, 15-, and 25-year age designations. The consumer-facing business has included a tasting room, wine club, weddings, and other events. In 2015, Vintage Wine Estates acquired B. R. Cohn Winery. That ownership period ended amid Vintage Wine Estates' financial difficulties. In July 2024, Vintage Wine Estates filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and identified asset sales, including the B. R. Cohn property and brand, as part of the restructuring process. In late 2024, Adair Family Wines took over B. R. Cohn and four sister wineries. The available sources do not provide enough information to describe subsequent management appointments, production volumes, distribution arrangements, or whether every historical product remains in the current range.

• 2024

  Ownership changes during Vintage Wine Estates restructuring

  [1]B.R. Cohn Wineryen.wikipedia.org

  Vintage Wine Estates entered Chapter 11 proceedings in July, followed by Adair Family Wines' takeover of B. R. Cohn and four sister wineries later in the year.

• 2015

  Acquisition by Vintage Wine Estates

  [1]B.R. Cohn Wineryen.wikipedia.org

  Vintage Wine Estates acquired B. R. Cohn Winery.

• 2007

  Petit Syrah wins competition sweepstakes

  [1]B.R. Cohn Wineryen.wikipedia.org

  The North Coast Petit Syrah was reported as one of two red sweepstakes winners at the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition.

• 2003

  Olive Hill Cabernet earns another strong review

  [1]B.R. Cohn Wineryen.wikipedia.org

  The 2003 vintage was reported as receiving a 93-point rating from Wine Spectator.

• 1990

  Expansion into olive oil and specialty foods

  [1]B.R. Cohn Wineryen.wikipedia.org

  During the 1990s, the winery expanded into artisan olive oils, vinegars, and other gourmet products.

• 1986

  Second highly rated Olive Hill Cabernet vintage

  [1]B.R. Cohn Wineryen.wikipedia.org

  The 1986 Olive Hill Cabernet was likewise reported as receiving 94 points from Wine Spectator and high national and international placement.

• 1985

  Olive Hill Cabernet receives major critical recognition

  [1]B.R. Cohn Wineryen.wikipedia.org

  The 1985 Olive Hill Cabernet was reported as receiving 94 points from Wine Spectator and ranking among the publication's top wines in the United States and worldwide.

• 1984

  B. R. Cohn Winery is founded

  [1]B.R. Cohn Wineryen.wikipedia.org

  After several years of selling grapes to other wineries, Cohn established a winery under his own name, with Helen Turley as the first winemaker.

• 1974

  Bruce Cohn acquires the vineyard property

  [1]B.R. Cohn Wineryen.wikipedia.org

  Bruce Cohn purchased the property later known as Olive Hill Estate Vineyards in Glen Ellen, including a historic grove of Picholine olive trees.

A Sonoma Valley estate winery combining premium California wines with estate-associated olive oils, wine-based vinegars, balsamic vinegar, and gourmet specialty foods. Its positioning also draws on its tasting-room hospitality, event venue, historic olive grove, and connection to founder Bruce Cohn's music-industry background.

• Wine · 1984

  Olive Hill Cabernet Sauvignon

  The Olive Hill Cabernet line is associated with the winery's estate identity and is its best-documented flagship wine family. The 1985 and 1986 vintages were reported as receiving 94 points from Wine Spectator and high national and international rankings. Cabernet Sauvignon remains the dominant grape variety in the vineyards described for the property.

• Wine

  North Coast Petit Syrah

  A North Coast red wine made from Petit Syrah. It received notable competition recognition when it was reported as one of two red sweepstakes winners at the 2007 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition.

• Wine

  Other estate and regional wines

  The winery's broader wine range has included Merlot, rosé, port, Syrah, Pinot Noir, Zinfandel, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Malbec, and Chardonnay. Syrah was described as being sold only through the tasting room, while Chardonnay was grown in the Carneros region.

• Specialty food · 1990

  Olive oils

  B. R. Cohn expanded into artisan olive oil during the 1990s. The range has included flavored and unflavored oils and an organic variety, drawing on the property's longstanding association with olive trees.

• Vinegar · 1990

  Wine-based vinegars

  The winery has produced vinegar from Cabernet, Chardonnay, and sparkling wines, including pear Chardonnay and raspberry champagne flavors. The stated Orleans-method process involves adding mature vinegar to fresh wine and aging the result in oak barrels for approximately 18 to 22 months.

• Vinegar

  Aged Modena balsamic vinegars

  The specialty-food portfolio has included imported balsamic vinegars from Modena, Italy, offered with reported age designations of 12, 15, and 25 years.

• 2024

  Transfer to Adair Family WinesM&A

  Background

  Vintage Wine Estates filed for Chapter 11 protection and planned to sell assets, including B. R. Cohn Winery.

  Action taken

  Adair Family Wines took over B. R. Cohn and four other sister wineries in late 2024.

  Aftermath

  Adair Family Wines became the identified owner of the winery. Available sources do not describe the detailed operating plan or post-transaction financial terms.

  Source

• 2015

  Join the Vintage Wine Estates portfolioM&A

  Background

  B. R. Cohn Winery was acquired as part of Vintage Wine Estates' expansion of its winery holdings.

  Action taken

  Vintage Wine Estates purchased the winery.

  Aftermath

  The winery remained associated with Vintage Wine Estates until the group's 2024 restructuring and subsequent asset transfer.

  Source

• 2024

  Vintage Wine Estates files for Chapter 11 and plans asset sales[1]B.R. Cohn Wineryen.wikipedia.org

  Bankruptcy · M&A

  Vintage Wine Estates filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in July 2024 and planned to sell its assets, including B. R. Cohn Winery.

• 2024

  Adair Family Wines takes over B. R. Cohn Winery[1]B.R. Cohn Wineryen.wikipedia.org

  M&A

  In late 2024, Adair Family Wines took over B. R. Cohn Winery and four other wineries formerly associated with the Vintage Wine Estates portfolio.

• 2015

  Vintage Wine Estates acquires B. R. Cohn Winery[1]B.R. Cohn Wineryen.wikipedia.org

  M&A

  Vintage Wine Estates purchased B. R. Cohn Winery, adding the Sonoma Valley producer to its winery portfolio.

• 2007

  North Coast Petit Syrah wins at the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition[1]B.R. Cohn Wineryen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  B. R. Cohn's North Coast Petit Syrah was reported as one of two red sweepstakes winners at the 2007 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition.

1. 1B.R. Cohn Wineryen.wikipedia.org