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The premium winery Ste. Michelle Wine Estates in the US state of Washington was sold by the US corporation Altria (Philip Morris, Kraft Foods, InBev) to the investment company Sycamore Partners. Thus, the largest winery in the Pacific Northwest and the third largest premium winery in the USA changes hands. The purchase sum of 1.2 billion US dollars makes the transaction the largest off-market purchase of a US wine company in history. The oldest winery in Washington Estate produces about 60 percent of all Washington wines on more than 12,000 hectares. According to reports from the USA, buyer Sycamore Partners, an investment firm specialising in consumer, retail and distribution investments, wants to continue working with the winery's existing team and chief enologist Bob Bertheau. Ste. Michelle Wine Estates includes, among others, the Chateau Ste. Michelle and Columbia Crest wineries in Washington, Stag's Leap Wine Cellars and Conn Creek in Napa Valley, as well as the "Col Solare" joint venture with Marchese Antinori and "Eroica" with the Dr. Loosen winery.
(al / Source: drinksbusiness; Photo: Chateau Ste. Michelle)