Chateau Ste. Michelle, Washington state’s founding winery, announced today it will celebrate its 50th Anniversary year with a commemorative Cabernet bottling, special events, library wine releases, a visitor center expansion, its famous Summer Concert Series and other programs throughout 2017.
Fifty years ago—in 1967—a small winery called Ste. Michelle Vintners introduced its first vintage of a European-style premium wine, a Cabernet Sauvignon from the Yakima Valley. It was this release that marked the beginning of today’s thriving Washington wine industry. Washington is now the nation’s number two producer of premium wine with more than 50,000 planted acres, nearly 1,000 wineries and 14 American Viticultural Areas or AVAs.
Over the past 50 years, Chateau Ste. Michelle has become the number two premium domestic wine brand sold in the U.S (Nielsen-Dollars), with wines available in all 50 states and more than 100 countries. Further elevating the state and country’s wine industry, the winery was the first to introduce international wine partners to Washington: Piero Antinori of Tuscany (Col Solare), Ernst Loosen of Germany (Eroica) and Michel Gassier and Philippe Cambie of France (Tenet).
“It is truly remarkable what Chateau Ste. Michelle and the Washington wine industry have accomplished in a relatively short period of time through a pioneering spirit, collaboration and hard work,” said Ted Baseler, President and CEO of Ste. Michelle Wine Estates. “With significant new vineyard plantings, industry investment in research and the education of future grape growers and winemakers, we can honestly say, the best is yet to come.”
The following special projects throughout 2017 will celebrate the past 50 years of the brand and set a foundation for continued success for both the winery and the Washington wine industry for years to come.
{ 0 comments… add one now }