Fetzer lays off 12

Fetzer Vineyards laid off a dozen workers Friday after deciding to outsource its trucking department to save money.

The nine truck drivers, two mechanics and one manager who worked at the Hopland winery were informed Friday that it would be their last day, said Phil Lynch, spokesman for Brown-Forman Co.

They will be paid through Jan. 31.

“We decided in a cost-cutting decision that we could save a considerable amount of money if we contracted the trucking service out,” Lynch said.

The Louisville, Ky.-based company owns Fetzer and Bonterra wineries in Mendocino County and Sonoma-Cutrer Vineyards in Windsor.

Fetzer produces about 4 million cases of wine and employs approximately 300 workers.

The winery hired Stockton-based Cherokee Freight Lines to do the hauling beginning Jan. 19.

“Like everyone in the wine business, or in any business these days, you're looking to cut costs wherever you can cut costs,” Lynch said.

The recession has caused wine drinkers to “trade down” to cheaper wines, Lynch said. However, he he didn't have information about how Fetzer's sales have fared. Most of its wines sell for well under $10

It's not the first round of layoffs at the company. In recent years, Brown-Forman has restructured its West Coast wine operations, selling operations and shifting management of the brands to Louisville.