OREANDA-NEWS. SPI Group announced that that it is looking to grow its global wine portfolio. The company, which owns Stolichnaya® Premium Vodka, is planning to further diversify its spirit portfolio through the acquisition of exclusive and premium wineries located throughout the world.

Yuri Shefler, owner of SPI Group, who has a tremendous passion for super-premium wines and frequently travels to key wine-making regions, is personally spearheading this initiative. The company, which is currently evaluating opportunities in California, Spain, Portugal and Chile, plans to complete potential acquisitions in the next couple of years.

“We have seen terrific growth within our world-class wine holdings since entering the business in 2006,” said Val Mendelev, CEO of SPI Group. “We are carefully evaluating multiple opportunities which will allow SPI to enrich its portfolio of jewel wines and develop this part of our company.”

In 2006, SPI Group acquired a stake in the prestigious Tenuta dell'Ornellaia, Castelgiocondo and Luce della Vite estates, all part of the Marchesi de'Frescobaldi family holdings. These three vineyards continue to produce some of the world's most highly sought after wines.

SPI expanded their wine holdings in 2011 by acquiring a majority stake in Achaval Ferrer, located in Mendoza, Argentina. The award-winning boutique winery produces some of the highest rated Argentinians wines which have consistently earned scores of 95-99 by Robert Parker and made the Wines Spectator's top 10 list.