Chateau Ste. Michelle Named Number One Most Admired Wine Brand in the U.S. by Drinks International
Woodinville, WA
Top American Winery Ranking Marks Chateau Ste. Michelle's Third Prestigious Honor this Fall
Drinks International magazine recently announced the "World's Most Admired Wine Brands," a comprehensive industry poll of the world's best regarded wine, and Washington's Chateau Ste. Michelle earned the #13 spot, the highest ranking for an American winery. This honor comes on the heels of Chateau Ste. Michelle winning "Washington's Most Respected Brand" in the Puget Sound Business Journal's "Battle of the Brands" poll in August, in which the winery beat out distinguished Washington organizations like Starbucks, Microsoft, Nordstrom and REI in an online poll. In addition, in October Chateau Ste. Michelle was named as one of Wine & Spirits magazine's "Wineries of the Year" for the 17th time, more than any other American winery.
"To be voted as the highest ranked American winery by renowned international wine industry professionals and the top Washington company by regional consumers are truly remarkable honors and a testament to the investment we have made in research, vineyards and winemaking over more than four decades," says Ted Baseler, Ste. Michelle Wine Estates President & CEO.
According to Drinks International, the sixty judges for the global wine industry poll included masters of wine, consultants, winemakers, critics, retailers, educators, buyers and analysts. Each was asked to select up to five wine brands - with which they had no association - using the following criteria:
- Wines should be of consistent or improving quality
- They should reflect their region or country of origin
- They should respond to the needs and tastes of their target audience
- They should be well marketed and packaged
- They should have strong appeal to a wide demographic
Supplement editor Graham Holter said: "Drinks International’s Most Admired Wine Brands project was conceived as an opportunity to salute the producers whose products have done the most to put regions on the map, to popularize wine drinking and to spread best practice throughout the industry."
The top 13 of the 50 World's Most Admired Wine Brands list comprised: Concha y Toro, Torres, Jacob’s Creek, Antinori, Penfolds, Cloudy Bay, Chateau Lafite, Vega Sicilia, Marqués de Riscal, Château Latour, Wolf Blass, Château Margaux and Chateau Ste. Michelle. For the complete list of the World's Most Admired Wine Brands, view Drinks International Article.
Wine & Sprits magazine panels and critics tasted 10,600 wines to select their 2011 "Wineries of the Year" and said, "With all of the economic uncertainty of the past summer and the volatile markets of the fall, it was good to be reminded in 2011 that, in this country, Chateau Ste. Michelle remains one of the wine world's great bastions of quality for price, full stop." P.J.C.
For more information about the Wine & Spirits "Wineries of the Year" award read the Article.
For more details about the Puget Sound Business Journal "Battle of the Brands" read the Article.
Founded in 1934, Chateau Ste. Michelle pioneered vinifera grape growing in Washington state and has been producing classic European varietal wines under the Ste. Michelle label since 1967. The winery combines an ongoing dedication to research with a commitment to classic winemaking traditions. The winery owns 3,500 acres of vineyards in the Columbia Valley of eastern Washington, including Canoe Ridge Estate and Cold Creek, which are LIVE and Salmon Safe Certified. Chateau Ste. Michelle enjoys winemaking partnerships with two of the world’s most distinguished vintners. Col Solare is an alliance with Tuscany’s Piero Antinori and Eroica Riesling is a partnership with the Mosel’s Ernst Loosen.
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