- Founded: 1945 in Canandaigua, New York
- FY 2025 Revenue: $10.21 billion
- Employees: 10,600 (as of February 2024)
- Market Cap: Approximately $27 billion (January 2026)
- Fortune 500 Rank: Listed on S&P 500 Index
Constellation Brands ranks as the largest beer import company in the United States by sales volume. The company produces and markets beer, wine, and spirits with operations across the U.S., Mexico, New Zealand, and Italy.
Headquartered in Rochester, New York, Constellation Brands owns more than 27 brands in its portfolio. Beer brands include Corona, Modelo Especial, and Pacifico. Wine brands include Robert Mondavi, Kim Crawford, and The Prisoner Wine Company. Spirits brands include Casa Noble Tequila and High West Whiskey.
Constellation Brands History
1945
Marvin Sands founded Canandaigua Industries in the Finger Lakes region of New York, producing bulk wine with eight employees and $150,000 in first-year sales.
1954
The company introduced Richard’s Wild Irish Rose, a dessert wine that became its flagship brand and significantly expanded market presence.
1973
Canandaigua Wine Company went public on the New York Stock Exchange, providing capital for expansion.
1993
The company acquired Barton Incorporated for $123 million, entering the distilled spirits and imported beer business including Corona distribution rights.
2000
The company renamed itself Constellation Brands to reflect its diverse portfolio across wine, spirits, and beer categories.
2004
Constellation acquired Robert Mondavi Corporation for $1 billion, adding premium and super-premium California wines to its portfolio.
2007
Rob Sands became CEO. Constellation and Grupo Modelo created the Crown Imports joint venture to import Corona and Modelo brands to the U.S.
2013
Constellation acquired Grupo Modelo’s U.S. beer business for $4.75 billion, gaining full ownership of Corona and Modelo rights in the United States.
2024
Constellation relocated headquarters to a 170,000 square foot campus in Downtown Rochester, becoming the first Fortune 500 company to operate in the city in two decades.
Constellation Brands Co-founders
Marvin Sands
Founded Canandaigua Industries at age 21 in 1945. Served as CEO from 1945 to 1993 and chairman until his death in 1999. Built the company from a bulk wine producer into a diversified beverage enterprise.
Marvin Sands was the sole founder of what became Constellation Brands. His sons Richard and Robert later assumed leadership roles, with Richard becoming CEO in 1996 and Rob taking over as CEO in 2007. Bill Newlands became CEO in 2019.
Constellation Brands Competitors
Constellation Brands competes with global beer, wine, and spirits producers. In the U.S. beer market, the company faces competition from Molson Coors and other major brewers. In spirits, companies like Diageo and Pernod Ricard compete for market share.
| Company |
Headquarters |
Primary Products |
| Anheuser-Busch InBev |
Leuven, Belgium |
Beer (Budweiser, Stella Artois) |
| Molson Coors |
Chicago, Illinois |
Beer (Coors Light, Miller Lite) |
| Heineken |
Amsterdam, Netherlands |
Beer (Heineken, Amstel, Dos Equis) |
| Diageo |
London, United Kingdom |
Spirits (Johnnie Walker, Guinness) |
| Pernod Ricard |
Paris, France |
Spirits (Absolut, Jameson) |
| E. & J. Gallo Winery |
Modesto, California |
Wine (Barefoot, Apothic) |
| Brown-Forman |
Louisville, Kentucky |
Spirits (Jack Daniel’s, Woodford) |
| Boston Beer Company |
Boston, Massachusetts |
Beer (Samuel Adams, Twisted Tea) |
| Carlsberg |
Copenhagen, Denmark |
Beer (Carlsberg, Tuborg) |
| Treasury Wine Estates |
Melbourne, Australia |
Wine (Penfolds, 19 Crimes) |
Constellation Brands Revenue
Constellation Brands generated $10.21 billion in revenue for fiscal year 2025, a 2.48% increase from the prior year. The beer segment drives the majority of sales, accounting for about 84% of total revenue.
The company’s Corona and Modelo brands maintain strong consumer demand in the U.S. market. Modelo Especial became the top-selling beer in America in recent years, surpassing Bud Light.
Constellation Brands Annual Revenue (FY 2016-2025) in Billions USD
Constellation Brands Marketcap
Constellation Brands has a market capitalization of approximately $27 billion as of January 2026. The company trades on the New York Stock Exchange under ticker symbols STZ and STZ.B.
Constellation Brands Market Cap (2016-2025) in Billions USD
Constellation Brands Acquisitions
Constellation Brands grew from a regional wine producer into a global beverage giant through acquisitions. The company executed dozens of deals over eight decades, reshaping its portfolio to focus on premium brands.
In 1993, Constellation acquired Barton Incorporated for $123 million. This deal brought spirits brands like Fleischmann’s and imported beers including Corona Extra distribution rights. The purchase doubled the company’s size and moved it beyond wine.
The 2004 acquisition of Robert Mondavi Corporation for $1 billion added premium California wines to the portfolio. Brands included Woodbridge, Robert Mondavi Private Selection, and the Robert Mondavi Winery. This purchase made Constellation the largest fine wine company in the United States.
Between 2003 and 2008, the company bought BRL Hardy, Nobilo, Vincor International, and Beam Wines Estates. Svedka Vodka joined the portfolio in 2007 when Constellation acquired Spirits Marque One. These deals expanded the company’s international presence and diversified its brand offerings.
The 2013 Grupo Modelo U.S. beer acquisition changed the company’s direction. Constellation paid $4.75 billion for full ownership of Corona, Modelo Especial, and Pacifico rights in the U.S. market, plus a brewery in Nava, Mexico. The deal came as part of an antitrust settlement when Anheuser-Busch InBev acquired Grupo Modelo globally.
In 2015, Constellation bought Ballast Point Brewing for $1 billion, entering the craft beer segment. The company later sold Ballast Point in 2019 for a fraction of that price after craft beer growth slowed. More recent moves include selling 30 low-cost wine labels to E. & J. Gallo for $810 million in 2021 as Constellation refocused on premium products.
FAQs
Who founded Constellation Brands?
Marvin Sands founded Constellation Brands in 1945 as Canandaigua Industries in New York’s Finger Lakes region. He started with eight employees producing bulk wine for East Coast bottlers.
What brands does Constellation Brands own?
Constellation Brands owns Corona, Modelo Especial, Pacifico, Robert Mondavi, Kim Crawford, The Prisoner wines, Casa Noble Tequila, High West Whiskey, and over 20 other beverage alcohol brands.
Where is Constellation Brands headquartered?
Constellation Brands is headquartered in Rochester, New York. In June 2024, the company moved to a new 170,000 square foot campus in Downtown Rochester’s historic Aqueduct Building.
Does Constellation Brands make Corona beer?
Constellation Brands produces Corona beer for the U.S. market at its breweries in Mexico. The company owns exclusive rights to import, market, and sell Corona in the United States.
When did Constellation Brands acquire Modelo?
Constellation Brands acquired the U.S. beer business of Grupo Modelo in June 2013 for $4.75 billion. The deal included Corona and Modelo brands plus a brewery in Nava, Mexico.
