Ste. Michelle Wine Estates

Introducing our new 14 Hands Buttery Chardonnay and Sweet Red Blend. The latest additions to our 14 Hands herd are sure to please those seeking a bold and buttery Chardonnay or smooth and decadent luscious red. And for those who may not think red wines are for them, give our sweet red blend a try … it’s a perfect entry to the wonderful world of reds. 🍷 Both sourced from Washington State’s Columbia Valley vineyards, these 14 Hands wines are available at stores nationwide. Pick one up before your next barbecue or weekday wine night. 🍾

We mourn the loss of the great Harvey Chaplin, Founder and Chairman of Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits. A visionary leader with a larger-than-life presence in the wine and spirits industry, Harvey was a dear friend and partner to our team at Ste. Michelle. His monumental influence on the industry lives on and should inspire us all to be visionaries – always exploring what’s possible, what’s next.

A leader, friend, and pioneer in the wine industry, Warren Winiarski, founder of Stag's Leap Wine Cellars, may be gone but his legacy lives on through the countless people he inspired and the incredible wines of Napa Valley. We were fortunate to know Warren and grateful for him entrusting Ste. Michelle to help carry on Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars' success for 10+ years. What Warren did for the industry and the many wineries that make up “new” world wine will be remembered forever – his legend only growing brighter with time. Today we raise a glass of Cabernet Sauvignon in Warren’s honor and toast to his remarkable achievements and indelible impression in the world of wine. 🍷

Our Chateau Ste. Michelle winemakers Taylor Butterfield, white wines, and Brian Mackey, red wines, gave us a sneak peek at what to expect from our 2024 vintage. On the white wine front, Taylor shared that we’re off to a great start for this vintage. If you happened to drive by the vineyards in Eastern Washington recently, you would have seen crews out suckering, shoot thinning, and mowing in between the vineyard rows – all necessary steps this time of year. Now we are onto bloom, and happily watching the vines produce tiny flowers that lead to the formation of berries. And those berries are primed to make delicious wines. 🍇 As for our red wines, we've had the perfect conditions for a stellar vintage of our award-winning reds. Brian said unusually warm weather came through Washington in March and got our buds opening a week or two earlier than normal. However, shortly after that, everything slowed back down with a very cool and wet April. This little pause was just what the vines needed to gather their strength, get a drink of water, and be ready to give it everything they've got for the rest of the season. Now is the waiting game. We sure wish we could fast forward time to enjoy our 2024 vintage. For now, we hope you’ll join us and sip on some of your favorite vintages from the past. 🍷

Our Washington Rieslings sure like to charm us every vintage – we cannot get enough of the flavorful wines that come from this versatile grape. Neither can Decanter and Maiah Johnson Dunn who recently recognized US Rieslings from West to East, covering what makes this delicious wine worth exploring. Dry or sweet, Riesling has it all. Thank you for including us in your Riesling roundup and the 93-point score for our own 2022 Eroica. Always appreciated. 😊 🥂 https://lnkd.in/gju5_5iP

Thank you Sean Sullivan for the wonderful piece about our Columbia Crest Head Winemaker Guy Barnes. Guy pursued his interest in winemaking 18 years ago when he joined Ste. Michelle Wine Estates, and we’ve been fortunate to have him with us ever since. Guy’s incredible talent and teamwork mindset add so much to day-to-day life at our Columbia Crest winery. As Guy shared, “As much as I might have the title, this is such a team atmosphere. There’s a large group of people involved in the 10,000 steps that go into this.” We couldn’t have said it any better – winemaking takes a village and we are happy to have Guy part of ours.

Are you an artist with an interest in all things wine? We have just the role for you. Check out our Artist in Residence position at A to Z Wineworks and explore two worlds that are often intertwined – art and winemaking. 🍷

Congratulations to winemakers Guy Barnes and Zach Richardson on their recent promotions! Guy is now the Head Winemaker of Columbia Crest and Zach is taking the helm as 14 Hands Winemaker. Together, Guy and Zach have over 25 years of Washington winemaking experience at Ste. Michelle Wine Estates – with both starting their careers here as technicians in our wine lab. We’re honored to have them continue their winemaking journey with us as they craft award-winning wines for Washington’s 2nd and 3rd largest wine brands.

🥂 Introducing the newest wines to join our lineup – Chateau Ste. Michelle LIGHT! These new wines are 80 calories per serving, 0 sugar and 9% ABV and are crafted for consumers seeking a lighter wine experience without compromising on the taste or quality our wines are known for (and you love!). The Sauvignon Blanc is refreshing and vibrant with notes of zesty lime and hints of tropical fruit. 🍍 And, the Chardonnay is a fresh yet soft style with subtle hints of oak that give the wine a sweet finish with flavors of melon, apple, and ripe apricot. 🍏 Find your balance! Look for this wine in retailers near you.

Earth Day offers us a chance to look back on what we’ve accomplished in our sustainability journey and a look ahead to what’s next! In the last year, Ste. Michelle has worked to craft the best possible wine while not compromising our commitment to the environment. Some of our proudest moments include: ✔️ Certifying all of our vineyards sustainable ✔️ Doubling down in adopting innovative packaging and eco-friendly alternatives, striving to purchase most of our packaging as locally as possible ✔️ Being awarded Silver Membership at International Wineries for Climate Action due to our work in tracking our greenhouse gas emissions Much of this work would not be possible without our dedicated and knowledgeable Sustainability Manager Madeline Mathews. We’re thankful for her leadership and unwavering commitment to doing good for our planet, something she is incredibly passionate about: “Sustainability is important to me because it has demanded that companies consider all the factors that their organization may impact – most importantly our environment – and the different communities that intersect to create something as special as a bottle of wine. We deserve this level of diligence as a consumer, and our planet certainly deserves this level of dedication to preserving it.” 🌎