NHL’s newest team, world’s most sustainable arena and Pacific Northwest’s founding winery team up to spotlight Washington state wines
SEATTLE – June 23, 2021 – Climate Pledge Arena, the Seattle Kraken and Ste. Michelle Wine Estates today announced a wide-ranging partnership joining three pillars of the Pacific Northwest community.
Climate Pledge Arena and the Seattle Kraken have named Ste. Michelle as the official wine partner of both the team and the arena. Ste. Michelle will showcase wines from its Chateau Ste. Michelle and 14 Hands wineries through exciting new consumer experiences both inside and outside the arena.
Climate Pledge Arena will feature a Chateau Ste. Michelle branded wine bar named The Chateau in the arena’s Mount Baker Hall for club level season ticket members. The arena will also feature a branded 14 Hands Marketplace near the main entrance. Renderings of these two arena spaces can be found here.
Ste. Michelle has also produced several wines dedicated to this partnership.
14 Hands Winery will release two new Kraken White and Red Blend cans to be sold in the arena’s 14 Hands Marketplace. These limited-edition Seattle Kraken branded wines will also be available at selected retailers in the Pacific Northwest beginning in September. The cans will feature a web-based augmented reality experience accessible from a QR code on the back of the can, bringing both the history of 14 Hands Winery and the story of the Seattle Kraken to life for fans.
Chateau Ste. Michelle will release a 2017 Collector’s Edition Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon sourced from premier vineyards in the Columbia Valley, including the winery’s own Canoe Ridge Estate vineyard, a certified sustainable vineyard known for its complex yet elegant style. This wine showcases both power and finesse – a perfect representation of the distinctive character of Washington state wines and the Seattle Kraken. With only 39 barrels produced, this limited-edition wine will be offered first exclusively to Seattle Kraken season ticket members and VIPs and to Chateau Ste. Michelle Vintage Reserve Club members and will be available for purchase at Chateau Ste. Michelle this fall.
In celebration of the partnership and in commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the 1917 Stanley Cup champion Seattle Metropolitans, Chateau Ste. Michelle has also produced two etched nine-liter bottles of 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon sourced from renowned vineyards in Columbia Valley. One of these custom bottles will be cellared at Climate Pledge Arena, to be opened when the Seattle Kraken win their first Stanley Cup. The other nine-liter bottle will be auctioned off at this year’s Auction of Washington Wines, as part of a package including a suite at a Seattle Kraken game and a private dinner with Seattle Kraken and Ste. Michelle principals. An image of these nine-liter bottles can be found here.
As the founding winery of Washington state, Ste. Michelle traces its roots to the repeal of Prohibition. They have since established a portfolio of iconic vineyards and wineries across the region, including the landmark Chateau Ste. Michelle winery in Woodinville, which opened its doors 45 years ago this year. Ste. Michelle’s rich history pairs perfectly with both the history of Climate Pledge Arena, which was originally constructed for the Seattle World’s Fair in 1962; and the history of hockey in the region, which dates to the 1917 Stanley Cup-winning Seattle Metropolitans.
“Delicious wine, great food, championship sport, and music are all proud signatures of this wonderful region and the people who call this special place home,” said David Dearie, President and CEO of Ste. Michelle Wine Estates. “We are thrilled to partner with the Seattle Kraken and Climate Pledge Arena to share Washington state’s world-class wines with sport and music fans in the Pacific Northwest and beyond.”
“So much of what inspires us is our history and the Pacific Northwest which is why Ste. Michelle Wine Estates is the perfect partner for us,” said Tod Leiweke, CEO of the Seattle Kraken. “Our fans will be able to enjoy their wines inside our building and at Kraken training center. Together we will continue to champion this wonderful region.”
Climate Pledge Arena will open in October 2021 as the home of the Seattle Kraken, Seattle Storm and over 100 nights of live entertainment and music a year. The Seattle Kraken begin their inaugural season as the NHL’s 32nd franchise in October 2021.
About Climate Pledge Arena
Climate Pledge Arena, located at Seattle Center, will be the first net zero certified arena in the world. It will serve as a long-lasting and regular reminder of the urgent need for climate action. The Climate Pledge, which was founded by Amazon and Global Optimism in 2019, is a commitment from companies globally to be net zero carbon by 2040. The complete redevelopment of this historic landmark, originally built for the 1962 Seattle World’s Fair, will be an industry first. Home to the NHL’s Seattle Kraken, WNBA’s Seattle Storm, and the world’s biggest performers of live music and events, Climate Pledge Arena will open in 2021. Learn More at www.climatepledgearena.com.
About Seattle Kraken
The Seattle Kraken are the National Hockey League’s newest franchise, set to play their inaugural season in 2021-2022 at Climate Pledge Arena at Seattle Center, developed by Oak View Group. Visit www.nhl.com/kraken for the latest news and information including press releases, multimedia content and the latest hires.
About Oak View Group (OVG)
Oak View Group (OVG) is a global sports and entertainment company founded by Tim Leiweke and Irving Azoff in 2015. OVG is focused on being a positive disruption to business as usual in the sports and live entertainment industry and currently has 8 divisions across 4 global offices (Los Angeles, New York, London and Philadelphia). OVG is leading the redevelopment and operations of Climate Pledge Arena as well as leading arena development projects in Belmont, NY, Austin, TX and Milan, Italy. OVG Global Partnerships, a division of OVG, is the sales and marketing arm responsible for selling across all OVG Arena Development projects. For the latest information and news on the arena, visit http://newarenaatseattlecenter.com.
About Ste. Michelle Wine Estates
Ste. Michelle Wine Estates is the largest winery in the Pacific Northwest and the third-largest premium winery in the United States. With a distinguished history that dates to 1934, the winery now farms more than 30,000 acres across Washington, Oregon, and California and distributes its wines in over 100 countries. Ste. Michelle Wine Estates pioneered vinifera winegrowing in Washington and remains the driving force behind viticulture and enology research in the state, including the establishment of the Washington State University viticulture and enology program and the construction of the university’s research and teaching winery, now named the Ste. Michelle Wine Estates WSU Wine Science Center.
The Ste. Michelle Wine Estates portfolio includes Chateau Ste. Michelle, 14 Hands, Columbia Crest, Intrinsic, Erath, Patz & Hall, Borne of Fire, Northstar, and Spring Valley Vineyard, along with several other premium brands. The winery also has partnerships with Marchesi Antinori (Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars and Col Solare), Dr. Loosen (Eroica), and Michel Gassier and Philippe Cambie (Tenet). Ste. Michelle Wine Estates serves as the exclusive U.S. importer for Marchesi Antinori and Champagne Nicolas Feuillatte. For more information, please visit www.smwe.com.
