World’s No. 1 wine producer, NY-based Constellation, will close a winery, donate it to college

Biggest winemaker to donate NY winery to college

VICTOR, N.Y. — The world’s biggest wine company is closing a winery in western New York and donating the building and vineyards to a college.

Constellation Brands Inc. said Thursday it will close Widmer Winery in 2011. The move is part of an expansion plan that includes moving the production of Manischewitz, Widmer, Paul Masson and Taylor wines to its Canandaigua (kan-un-DAY’-gwuh) Winery from the Widmer facility in Naples, 40 miles southeast of Rochester.

Constellation CEO Rob Sands says the move will improve efficiency. A company spokeswoman says many of the 55 Widmer jobs likely will move to Canandaigua, 20 miles away.

Sands says the donation to the Rochester Institute of Technology will enhance the school’s programs in sustainability, wine and culinary arts.

Constellation is based in suburban Rochester. It sells or markets more than 100 brands.