Marchesi Antinori and Ste. Michelle Wine Estates
announce change in ownership in the premier Red Mountain Washington winery
June 20th, 2024 – Marchesi Antinori, one of the oldest Italian family-owned fine wine producers; and Ste. Michelle Wine Estates, the leading Pacific Northwest wine company, have announced that Marchesi Antinori will take full ownership of Col Solare which the two renowned winery partners established together nearly 30 years ago.
“Our family has been fascinated by the unique terroir of Red Mountain AVA since the early 90s. It’s an ongoing and exciting challenge for us to make Washington red wines distinctive and renowned for their high quality. The full ownership of Col Solare, combined with the acquisition of Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars in 2023, in Napa Valley (California), is a proof of how much we believe in these exceptional wine territories. I have to thank Ste Michelle Wine Estates for our collaboration,” said Piero Antinori.
Italian for ‘shining hill,’ Col Solare was founded to unite two unique viticultural and winemaking cultures to produce an ultra-luxury Washington Cabernet Sauvignon. Ste. Michelle was the first Washington winery to introduce international winemakers to Washington State when it partnered with the esteemed Piero Antinori to launch Col Solare with the 1995 vintage. The partners went on to establish a dedicated Col Solare winery and estate vineyard on Red Mountain in 2007 with a renewed vision of showcasing Cabernet from this unique AVA and the estate vineyard.
“It was a privilege when Ste. Michelle partnered with Piero Antinori three decades ago to create Col Solare and grow it into an elite Washington winery, and we are thrilled the Antinori family will carry this legacy into the future,” said Shawn Conway, Chief Executive Officer for Ste. Michelle Wine Estates. “The fact that the Antinori family wants to grow their investment and commitment in Col Solare is a testament to the world-class quality, prestige and bright future of the Washington wine region.”
The transaction is expected to close by the end of June.
About Col Solare
Col Solare was born from the partnership between two influential wine producers who are recognized leaders in their respective regions: Tuscany’s Marchesi Antinori and Washington State’s Chateau Ste. Michelle.
From its inaugural 1995 vintage, Col Solare’s mission has been to unite these two unique viticultural and winemaking cultures to produce world-class Cabernet Sauvignon from the very best Washington fruit.
With the building of its own dedicated new winery and planting of the estate vineyard on Red Mountain in 2006, that vision has evolved to focus on showcasing the Cabernet Sauvignon of this unique AVA and the specific fruit of the Col Solare estate vineyard, about 29-acres.
For more information visit www.colsolare.com
About Marchesi Antinori
The Antinori Family has been making wine for over 635 years. Throughout its long history, spanning 26 generations, the family has always personally managed the business making innovative, sometimes courageous choices, always with unwavering respect for tradition and the land.
Today, Albiera Antinori is the president of Marchesi Antinori with the continuous close support of her two sisters, Allegra and Alessia, all actively involved in first person in the business.
Marchesi Antinori is the combination of different estates, mainly in Tuscany and Umbria,
located in wine-growing areas that are particularly suited to the production of high-quality wines in a perfect balance between tradition and innovation.
For more information visit www.antinori.it
About Ste. Michelle Wine Estates
Ste. Michelle Wine Estates, an icon of the Pacific Northwest, was the first premium wine company to establish its roots in Washington state in 1933. Now more than 90 years later, we remain among the largest and most acclaimed premium wine companies in the U.S. with wines found in every state and over 100 countries. Showcasing our distinctive Washington and Oregon growing regions, our award-winning wines are crafted with an unwavering focus on quality and a commitment to sustainability.
Our portfolio includes Chateau Ste. Michelle, 14 Hands, Columbia Crest, Spring Valley Vineyard, and Northstar from Washington; A to Z, Erath, and REX HILL from Oregon; and Champagne Nicolas Feuillatte of France. To learn more, please visit: www.smwe.com.
