The Winery Exchange and Private Label Beer

Founded in 1999, the Winery Exchange produces a large array of private label (store brand) beers, wines, and hard liquors. Many of their beer brands, such as Big Flats 1901, are sold under exclusive agreement with store chains, such as Walgreens. Most of their beer brands are produced at the Rochester, New York brewery, most famous for the Genesee beers, although some Winery Exchange beers are imported from Europe or Latin America.

Although the quality of the beers is questionable (I have tried quite a few and have found them inferior or even outright unpleasant), there does seem to be a continuing market for them, and many times they are marketed as craft beers, as one will notice with the brands sold at Whole Foods Market.

Like it or not, the private label segment of the beer market is strong, the Winery Exchange is a major player in it, and there is no sign that the trend will end in the foreseeable future.