California has hundreds of small, family-owned wineries surrounded by vineyards. But the huge international companies that dominate the industry also trade on that image to promote their products, and their business interests.

Marin Institute Research and Policy Director Sarah Mart says their study of the biggest multinational figures in the US and California wine industry also dominate the California Wine Industry.

In the wake of prohibition, the alcoholic beverage industry in the United State was organized into three separate branches:  supply and production, distribution and wholesaling, and retail sales. Having substantially consolidated the ownership and production of wine in California, these multi-billion companies are now turning their attention to another branch of the industry, Mart says, and moving to assert their dominance over distribution.

Sarah Mart is the  Research and Policy Manager at Marin Institute. You can read a summery or download here entire report here.  Find out more about the California Wine Institute at their website.