Kim Crawford

Founded as a virtual winery, sourcing grapes from growers rather than owning vineyards or land, Kim Crawford was among the first New Zealand producers to enter the United States market. That model, which kept the focus on winemaking style over physical assets, proved a significant advantage in building international brand recognition. Kim Crawford is credited as a pioneer of the Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc style, playing a notable role in establishing the region's global profile for that grape variety.

Constellation Brands acquired Kim Crawford through its purchase of Vincor International and subsequently grew the brand across major international markets. Kim Crawford began its lower-alcohol journey in 2020 with Illuminate, a reduced-calorie, lower-alcohol line, before committing to the AF category in 2024 with its first completely alcohol-free wines.

The AF range is produced using a spinning cone column, a low-temperature method of separating alcohol from finished wine that preserves delicate aromatics more gently than conventional heat-based processes. The technique retains varietal character through the dealcoholisation process and is particularly suited to aromatic white varieties like Sauvignon Blanc.

Kim Crawford's AF range targets sober-curious wine drinkers who want Marlborough character without the alcohol, building on a heritage that made the original wines a benchmark label in several major markets.