COMPANYHISTORIES
SIC 2084

Wines, Brandy, and Brandy Spirits

How the companies in this industry began, and the forces that shaped them.

11companies1724–1997founding years10still active1no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironmentHistory
FoundedRémy Cointreau S.A.
1724
FoundedMarie Brizard & Roger International S.A.
1755
FoundedCorby Distilleries LimitedFoundedMaison Louis Jadot
1859
FoundedSutter Home Winery Inc.
1874
FoundedThe South African Breweries Limited
1895
1903
TechnologyThe Wright brothers achieve powered flight.
1914
EconomyWorld War I begins; global trade reorders.
FoundedThe Seagram Company Ltd.
1928
1939
EconomyWorld War II begins; wartime production surges.
1945
EconomyThe war ends; a long global expansion begins.
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented.
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
FoundedERLY Industries Inc.FoundedTodhunter International, Inc.
1964
FoundedHillsdown Holdings plc
1975
TechnologyThe personal-computer era begins.
1981
TechnologyThe IBM PC launches and sets a standard.
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
1989
HistoryThe Berlin Wall falls; global markets open up.
1991
TechnologyThe World Wide Web is released to the public.
1993
TechnologyThe Mosaic browser brings the web to everyone.
1995
TechnologyWindows 95 launches; the internet goes mainstream.
FoundedDiageo plc
1997
EnvironmentThe Kyoto Protocol sets the first climate targets.
2004
TechnologySocial media and Web 2.0 take hold.
2007
TechnologyThe iPhone launches the smartphone era.
2010
TechnologyCloud computing goes mainstream for business.
2015
EnvironmentThe Paris Agreement sets global climate targets.
2020
EconomyThe COVID-19 pandemic upends the global economy.
2022
EconomyInflation spikes; central banks raise rates sharply.
2023
TechnologyGenerative AI reaches mainstream business use.
§ 02

The companies

Rémy Cointreau S.A. →
Active · founded 1724 · France
Acclaimed the world over for its Rémy Martin cognacs, the group Rémy Cointreau S.A.
Marie Brizard & Roger International S.A. →
Active · founded 1755 · France
While most companies are content to count their histories in years, Marie Brizard & Roger International S.A.
Corby Distilleries Limited →
Active · founded 1859 · Canada
Based in Montreal, Corby Distilleries Limited markets a full range of domestically produced distilled spirits and…
Maison Louis Jadot →
Active · founded 1859 · France
With extensive vineyard holdings throughout France's Burgundy region, Maison Louis Jadot ranks among the premier…
Sutter Home Winery Inc. →
Active · founded 1874
Sutter Home Winery Inc.
The South African Breweries Limited →
Active · founded 1895 · South Africa
The South African Breweries Limited (SAB) is a holding company whose principal line of business is brewing.
The Seagram Company Ltd. →
Active · founded 1928 · Canada
The Seagram Company Ltd., which is 32-percent owned by the Bronfman family, is a major international liquor giant…
ERLY Industries Inc. →
Defunct · founded 1964
Owner of one of the largest rice companies in the world, ERLY Industries Inc.
Todhunter International, Inc. →
Active · founded 1964
Todhunter International, Inc.
Hillsdown Holdings plc →
Active · founded 1975 · United Kingdom
Hillsdown Holdings plc is a somewhat obscure holding company for a wide range of food, homebuilding, furniture, and…
Diageo plc →
Active · founded 1997 · United Kingdom
Diageo plc is a world leader in branded food and drinks.
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