Ste. Michelle Wine Estates to be Exclusive Importer of Marchesi Antinori’s Prunotto Estate Wines

Woodinville, Wash.

Washington state-based Ste. Michelle Wine Estates has been named the exclusive U.S. importer of wines from the Antinori family’s Prunotto Estate, located in Italy’s Piedmont wine region. This announcement expands on the Ste. Michelle Wine Estates-Marchesi Antinori strategic alliance made in 2006 that encompasses Antinori wine projects in Italy, Chile and the United States.

Beginning in April 2012, Ste. Michelle Wine Estates will import the wines from the Prunotto Estate, including "Fiulot" Barbera d'Asti DOC, "Mompertone" Monferrato Rosso DOC, Barbaresco DOCG, Barolo DOCG, Dolcetto d'Alba DOC, Moscato 'Asti DOCG, "Bric Turot" Barbaresco DOCG, "Bussia" Barolo DOCG and Roero Arneis DOCG. The wines, which carry a suggested retail price ranging from $15 to $95, are true to place and offer the aromas and characteristics typical of the grapes cultivated in the hills of Piedmont. “The land on which the Prunotto Estate is situated is fascinating not only because of its natural scenery and the peacefulness it offers, but also because of its history and tradition,” said Marchese Piero Antinori. “Our family decided to take on this terrain and invest extensively in the most modern winemaking technology and in updating the cellars because we believe strongly that Prunotto has the potential to become one of the most significant wineries in the Piemonte region.” Ted Baseler, President & CEO of Ste. Michelle Wine Estates, agrees. “The Prunotto wines are gems and we look forward to growing their distribution and building the Barolo/Barbaresco category in the United States,” Baseler said. “The addition of the boutique Prunotto wines from Piedmont to our portfolio fits perfectly with our vision for producing top-quality wines from historic vineyard sites and also expands our partnership with the Antinori family.”

The Antinori Family history is a narrative about devotion to winemaking that is woven through 627 years and 26 generations and stretches from the family’s legendary vineyards in Tuscany and Umbria to their latest ventures in the United States. Piero Antinori, known for his life-long curiosity about how grapes are grown around the world, journeyed to Washington in 1992 and discovered during that trip an emerging wine region supported by the leadership of Chateau Ste. Michelle, the Northwest’s oldest and most-acclaimed winery in the Ste. Michelle Wine Estates portfolio.

About Prunotto

In 1989, the Marchesi Antinori family began its collaboration with the Prunotto Winery, at first handling distribution and later, in 1994, when the Colla brothers retired, getting directly involved in the production process, maintaining the excellent level of quality which Alfredo Prunotto had always insisted upon. One of the most important objectives set by the Antinori family, together with the Colla brothers, is to produce wines from personally-owned vineyards and therefore to maintain more control over the final product right from the start.

This project, located in Alba, was realized in 1990, when Albiera Antinori, Marchese Piero Antinori's oldest daughter, oversaw the acquisition of vineyards, including: The Costamiole Vineyard in Agliano for the production of Barbera d'Asti; the vineyard in the Bussia cru, one of the most well-known in the Barolo zone; and land in Calliano for the study and analysis of the new varietals, i.e. Albarossa and Syrah. In 1996, a long-term lease agreement was made for a 12-acre vineyard called "Bric Turot," in the Barbaresco region as well as a 12-acre vineyard in the Treiso zone for the production of Moscato. Visit the Prunotto Website.

About Ste. Michelle Wine Estates

Ste. Michelle Wine Estates has become the most prominent wine company in Washington State, known for its pioneering spirit and world-class wines. Its wineries include Chateau Ste. Michelle (founded in 1934), Columbia Crest, Northstar, Col Solare (in partnership with Antinori) and Spring Valley Vineyards in Washington State; Erath Winery in Oregon; and Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars (in partnership with Antinori), Conn Creek and Villa Mt. Eden wineries in Napa Valley, California. In addition, the company is the exclusive importer for all Antinori wines in the U.S. and manages sales for Antica Napa Valley, an Antinori family estate. www.smwe.com

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For further information:
Jennifer J. Scott
425-415-3354
jennifer.j.scott@smwe.com