Chateau Ste. Michelle Named as Wine & Spirits “Wineries of the Year” for the 16th time!

Woodinville, Wash.

Wine & Spirits Magazine named Chateau Ste. Michelle as one of its “Wineries of the Year” for the 16th time in its October 2011 Buying Guide, making it the most honored American winery in the magazine’s “Hall of Fame.” Only one other winery (Penfolds) has received more “Winery of the Year” awards with 20 honors.

The magazine credits Chateau Ste. Michelle’s leadership in Washington state and viticulture as reasons for selecting the winery for this esteemed honor.

“As Washington State continues to grow in stature, acreage and reputation, Chateau Ste. Michelle continues to grow as a wine company and ambassador for the region’s wines. Its international partnerships with Ernst Loosen (Eroica Riesling) and the Antinori family (Col Solare) were the first of their kind in the region, bringing international attention to the Columbia Valley. But CSM has focused its efforts mainly on its own vineyard estate, which it has been developing since the early 1970s. Just this year, Kevin Corliss, Director of Vineyard Operations, earned LIVE Sustainable and Salmon-Safe certification for two of their most important estate vineyards, Canoe Ridge and Cold Creek…"

Chateau Ste. Michelle’s current team is led by Bob Bertheau, chief winemaker since 2003. Joshua Maloney heads up red winemaking while Wendy Stuckey directs the white program. In 2005, Maloney left the Finger Lakes, where he got his start in wine, to become the youngest red winemaker in CSM’s history. Maloney was responsible for their 2007 Indian Wells Merlot, a generous, mildly savory red that totally over-delivers at $22.

Meanwhile Wendy Stuckey, formerly a Riesling specialist in South Australia for Wolf Blass, has worked with Loosen and Bertheau to seek out evercooler vineyards for Eroica. In 2008, the cool season helped as well, delivering a wine that is generous and precise at once, with creamy accents given contour by finely honed, mineral acidity. Generosity and purity of fruit may come to define Washington riesling before long,and Eroica has been vital in shaping that impression. —P.J.C.”

Chateau Ste. Michelle participated in Wine & Spirits Top 100 tasting in San Francisco on October 13 for trade and consumers, showcasing Eroica Riesling, which earned a 94 point rating by Wine & Spirits.

Chateau Ste. Michelle recieved Wine & Spirits "Wineries of the Year" honors for '88, '89, '90, '97, '99, '00, '02, '03, '04, '05, '06, '07, '08, '09, '10, '11.

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For further information:
Lynda Eller
lynda.eller@smwe.com