Thursday, August 2, 2007 - Page updated at 10:26 AM
E-mail article
Print view Share:
Digg
Newsvine
Vintage purchase for Ste. Michelle, partner
Seattle Times business reporter
Ste. Michelle Wine Estates of Woodinville is poised to become part-owner of Stag's Leap Wine Cellars, the famous Napa Valley estate that helped put U.S. wine on the world map.
Ste. Michelle has partnered with Italian winemaker Marchese Piero Antinori to buy Stag's Leap for about $185 million in a deal expected to close this fall.
Stag's Leap is known for beating some of France's finest Bordeaux wines in a 1976 blind tasting in Paris, an occasion that sparked the rise of California wines and is the subject of two upcoming movies — "Bottle Shock" and one based on the book "Judgment of Paris."
Warren Winiarski, who founded Stag's Leap in the early 1970s, will consult with the new owners for three years. But, he said, he's also looking forward to traveling with his wife, Barbara.
"When people retire from our winery, she would say to them, 'Would you have a discussion with Warren?'" said Winiarski, 78, who has three children involved with the winery but no family members who can take over full-time.
Stag's Leap has about 100 employees and makes several luxury wines, including Cask 23, which has a suggested retail price of $175 for a 750 ml bottle. Other labels include S.L.V. ($110), Fay ($85) and a blend called Artemis ($55).
Winiarski visited Ste. Michelle in Woodinville a couple weeks ago and toured two of its Eastern Washington wineries — Northstar near Walla Walla and Col Solare, a joint venture with Antinori that opened at Red Mountain earlier this year.
It was a better trip than his last visit 15 years ago, when Washington's vineyards were "a little bit raw," Winiarski said.
"Your skillful people have revolutionized that part of the country with their dedication and passion," he said.
When he decided to sell Stag's Leap, Winiarski talked to Italian winemaker Piero Antinori, whom he has known for years. Antinori suggested that Ste. Michelle be part of the acquisition.
Ted Baseler, president of Ste. Michelle, said he hopes to build a new tourist center near 38,000 square feet of underground caves near Napa where Stag's Leap ages its barrels. The caves were designed by Spanish architect Javier Barba and featured in Architectural Digest a few years ago.
Ste. Michelle, which is owned by the tobacco company UST, produces more than half of all the wine made in Washington. Its wineries include Columbia Crest and Spring Valley Vineyards in Washington, Erath Vineyard Winery in Oregon and Conn Creek and Villa Mt. Eden wineries in Napa Valley.
Melissa Allison: 206-464-3312 or mallison@seattletimes.com
Copyright © 2007 The Seattle Times Company

entertainment

events for Tuesday, Dec. 2nd
- Eagle Eye (Movie)
- High School Musical 3: Senior Year (Movie)
- UW Music: Carol Fest (Classical music)
editors' picks
More shopping guidesUPDATE - 04:40 PM
Big Three survival bailout requests rise to $34B
WaMu to lay off 3,400 in Seattle; bank to empty most of its leased space downtown
UPDATE - 05:48 PM
Entellium files for bankruptcy protection
Clearwire makes its WiMax broadband brand Clear
Delta details planned capacity cuts
- JPMorgan cutting 3,400 Seattle jobs
- WaMu to lay off 3,400 in Seattle; bank to empty most of its leased space downtown
- Cougar fans nip at request for Husky Stadium funds
- College Football | With UW, Pat Hill says he had "great" talk
- US cruise ship outruns Somali pirates' guns
- UW to get close look at Jeff Tedford
- Wal-Mart worker trampled to death by frenzied Black Friday shoppers
- Boy's archery death accidental, coroner says
- Star Times | Football: Offense
- Bush: `I'm sorry' the economic crisis is occurring
- JPMorgan cutting 3,400 Seattle jobs
- WaMu to lay off 3,400 in Seattle; bank to empty most of its leased space downtown
- Canada's oil-sands boom creates vast riches and a dirty footprint
- Meteorologist Cliff Mass examines Pacific Northwest weather in his new book
- UW uses artwork to help sharpen visual skills of future doctors
- Wal-Mart worker trampled to death by frenzied Black Friday shoppers
- Recycling fees may rise as demand, prices drop
- Cougar fans nip at request for Husky Stadium funds
- Gregoire looking at massive state budget cuts
- 2 homeless women back on their feet for Seattle Marathon
