USA, ME & CA: Shipyard Brewing partners with a California winery to market and sell its beers on the West Coast

Shipyard Brewing Co. in Portland has partnered with a California winery that will begin marketing and selling the company's beer on the West Coast, MaineBiz reported on May, 30.

Representatives from Fess Parker Winery are expected this week to tour Shipyard and learn more about Portland as it prepares to launch this new collaboration, according to a press release from the company.

Shipyard officials said the partnership marks the first time a winery has managed a beer brand. California is a growth market for Shipyard, and the collaboration will allow the brewery to grow its brand. Fess Parker will now be able to approach retailers that have historically focused on beer instead of wine.

Shipyard already sells about 40,000 cases of beer a year in California, but hopes to boost that by about 25% through the new partnership, according to the Portland Press Herald.

Fess Parker Winery was founded by actor Fess Parker, known for playing Daniel Boone in a television series and Davy Crockett in a Disney movie. He died in 2010. His family members are still involved with the business, which is based in Los Olivos.

01 June, 2012