— Beringer (White Merlot, White Zinfandel, Red Moscato, Refreshingly Sweet Moscato). — Charles Shaw (White Zinfandel). — Colores Del Sol (Malbec).

Soon, most California wineries were making White Zinfandel, and from the early 1980s until the late 1990s, it was the most popular varietal in the United States, supplanted by Chardonnay in 1998.

Signaling the start of what could be major consolidation in the premium-wine business, Australia’s largest brewer, Melbourne-based Foster’s Brewing Group Ltd., has agreed to buy Beringer Wine ...