Constellation Brands to make major wine industry announcement

It's good economic news for Ontario County. A historic winery in Naples will stay open thanks to a collaboration of local companies and RIT.

Today in Canandaigua, Constellation Brands announced it and RIT have reached a deal to sell the Windmer Winery to a Hazlitt Vineyards -- a Naples winery.

The deal is not done yet but once it is, Hazlitt is expected to take over and operate the facility by the end of the year. That means popular wines like Red Cat, White Cat, Cabin Fever and Bramble Berry" will still exist.

Robert Sands of Constellation said, saving a healthy New York State wine business, having healthy participants in the business like Hazlitt really makes the business better for everybody. To us it's an unreliable opportunity. We've been looking for a way to take over our and expand our production and to be able to take over Widmer Winery is just amazing.

hazlitt says it expects to hire 21 more people in the next two years to keep Widmer running.