On Wednesday, Wine Spectator broke the story that had been only a rumor for the past six months: Constellation Brands, a Fortune 500 company, has purchased the iconic Sea Smoke Estate Vineyard in the Sta. Rita Hills.

This brand purchase seems to be Constellation’s first foray into Santa Barbara County, according to its website. The company purchased a stake in Paso Robles’ Booker Vineyard in July 2020.

Constellation Brands is a drinks titan whose portfolio includes Corona and Modelo beers and iconic wine labels, among them Robert Mondavi, Cook’s Champagne, Kim Crawford and Shrader.

Three longtime Sea Smoke employees — general manager Victor Gallegos, winemaker Don Schroeder and vineyard manager Julian Malone — will remain with the company.

Speaking to Wine Spectator, Gallegos said the team is “extremely excited” to collaborate with Constellation on “a new chapter in the Sea Smoke story,” noting that they have the “right team with the right resources” to succeed in the competitive wine market.

“It was clear early on that both Constellation Brands and Sea Smoke share an unwavering commitment to excellence, sustainability and strategic growth,” Gallegos told the magazine.

Sea Smoke founder Bob Davids came to the wine industry with funds amassed from producing video games with titles such as Draw Poker and Bass Fishing, according to Wine Spectator.

He founded Sea Smoke in 1998 and its first vineyard on a south-facing slope that, high above the Santa Ynez River, attracted lots of fog — hence the name, Sea Smoke.

The label quickly earned acclaim as a top-scoring cult winery focused on pinot noir and chardonnay and, later, sparkling wines.

In 2016, Davids purchased the nearby Rita’s Crown Vineyard.

The sale to Constellation includes 1,100 acres — 256 biodynamically farmed acres encompassing both the Sea Smoke and Rita’s Crown vineyards — the winery in Lompoc, all inventory and the brand, according to Wine Spectator. The purchase price was not revealed.

Sea Smoke’s total case production is 15,000 per year.