Contingencies (Certain Other Actions) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended	51 Months Ended		9 Months Ended				3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011 Michelle-Antinori [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 Performance Guarantee [Member]	Dec. 31, 2006 LILO And SILO Transactions 1996-1999 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 LILO And SILO Transactions 2000-2003 [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 LILO And SILO Transactions 1996-2003 [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 LILO And SILO Transactions 1996-2003 [Member]	Mar. 31, 2011 LILO And SILO Transactions 1996-2003 [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 LILO And SILO Transactions 2004-2010 [Member]
Contested taxes and interest paid for tax examination							$ 150,000,000	$ 945,000,000		$ 1,100,000,000	$ 945,000,000
Potential disallowance of federal and state income tax deductions												1,000,000,000
Leveraged lease charge	627,000,000	627,000,000	95,000,000						627,000,000
Reduction to stockholders' equity upon adoption of FIN 48				(146,000,000)
Percentage of reduction in cumulative lease earnings										50.00%
Potential reduction in tax liabilities and other assets										300,000,000
Portion of PMCC Net Finance Assets that are LILO / SILO leveraged leases												32.00%
Contingent liability related to performance surety bonds						29,000,000
Ste. Michelle ownership interest percent in Stag's Leap Wine Cellars					85.00%
Noncontrolling interest percent held by Antinori California					15.00%
Put arrangement value Antinori California					$ 27,000,000