As founder of the wine group, Ciocca leaves behind a legacy of entrepreneurship and innovation.
Livermore, California (December 20, 2021) – Arthur “Art” Ciocca, founder of The Wine Group, has passed away at the age of 84. Known for his vision, entrepreneurial spirit, integrity and deeply rooted values, Art was the founder and CEO of The Wine Group for 26 years.
A successful entrepreneur, Art was passionate about the field and gave generously of his time to help other entrepreneurs. In 1981, Art and a colleague purchased the wine assets of the Coca-Cola Bottling Company of New York, a minor player in the wine industry at the time, and founded The Wine Group. Today, The Wine Group is the second largest wine company in the United States.
“Art Sciocca is the heart and soul of our company,” said Kate Hardy, CEO of The Wine Group. “He built the foundation of our company and his legacy lives on in the entrepreneurial spirit, passion and determination of everyone in this organization. Art's vision will continue to inspire us for generations to come.”
In 2006, Ciocca wrote a book looking back on his career: Thinking Outside the Box: The Story of Wine Group, He commented:
“I am proud and grateful for what I have achieved. I feel fortunate to have had the opportunity to start a company and contribute to the development of this amazing industry. I was lucky to be in the right place at the right time with the necessary skill set. This was the perfect opportunity for a young entrepreneur looking for a place to make his mark.”
Art attended the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts, where he enrolled in the four-year United States Naval Reserve Officers' Training Course. After graduating in 1959, he enlisted in the Navy, serving in the Navy during the day and attending graduate school at night to earn an MBA. Art subsequently worked in the wine divisions of General Foods, E. & J. Gallo Winery, and The Coca-Cola Bottling Company of New York before founding his own company, The Wine Group.
He is survived by his wife, Carlyse. With Carlyse, Arthur established a number of charitable foundations, beginning with the education-focused Ciocca Foundation in 1996. In recent years, they founded the Ciocca Center for Ideas-Based Entrepreneurship at Catholic University, the Ciocca Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Santa Clara University, and the Carlyse and Arthur A. Ciocca Center for Business, Ethics and Society at Arthur's alma mater, College of the Holy Cross.
About Wine Group
Founded in 1981, The Wine Group is the third largest winery in the world by volume of production. TWG is headquartered at the historic Concannon Estate in Livermore, California, with additional wineries in California, New York and Australia. The Wine Group has been management owned and operated since it was founded by Art Ciocca in 1981. The company's wine portfolio includes Franzia, Cupcake, Chloe, Benziger, Almaden, Imagery, Tribute, Beringer, 7 Deadly Zins, Corbett Canyon and Concannon Vineyards.
