French Firm Buys Sonoma Winery: Paribas Domaines-USA,...

French Firm Buys Sonoma Winery: Paribas Domaines-USA, an affiliate of a French banking group, acquired a majority interest in Wm Wheeler Winery, a 20,000-case producer of premium wines based in Healdsburg. A minority interest will remain with founders of the 19-year-old winery, William and Ingrid Wheeler. Although terms were not disclosed, William Wheeler was named president and chief executive of Paribas Domaines-USA, which said it undertook the move “to take advantage of further growth opportunities in the Northern California wine industry.”