Chateau Ste. Michelle Becomes Number One Wine Brand Sold in Food Stores Nationally

Woodinville, Wash.

Washington’s founding winery, Chateau Ste. Michelle has come out on top as the number one premium table wine brand sold in food stores nationwide.

Chateau Ste. Michelle received the ranking of the highest-selling wine brand in the premium category by data and ratings company Nielsen, which tracked the volume of sales in the U.S. across 52 weeks ending on June 17th, 2017.

Ted Baseler, Ste. Michelle Wine Estates president and CEO, marvels at the remarkable growth of Chateau Ste. Michelle and credits the pioneering spirit of the region, and continued investment in the winery and its Washington vineyards.

“Who would have known half a century ago that a wine from Washington state would be the #1 in food stores?” remarks Baseler. “It is a testament to decades of hard work, research and constantly striving for enhanced quality in the vineyard and cellar.”

Fifty years ago—in 1967—a small winery called Ste. Michelle Vintners introduced its first vintage of a European-style premium wine, a Cabernet Sauvignon from the Yakima Valley. It was this release that marked the beginning of today’s thriving Washington wine industry. Washington is now the nation’s number two producer of premium wine with more than 50,000 planted acres, nearly 1,000 wineries and 14 American Viticultural Areas (AVAs).

Today, Chateau Ste. Michelle wines are available in all 50 states and more than 100 countries. Located outside of Seattle in Woodinville, Washington, Chateau Ste. Michelle hosts more than 300,000 visitors annually.

Further elevating the state and country’s wine industry, the winery was the first to introduce international wine partners to Washington: Piero Antinori of Tuscany (Col Solare), Ernst Loosen of Germany (Eroica) and Michel Gassier and Philippe Cambie of France (Tenet).

This year, Chateau Ste. Michelle is celebrating its 50th Anniversary with commemorative Cabernet and Chardonnay bottlings, special events, library wine releases, the visitor center expansion, its famous Summer Concert Series and other programs throughout 2017.

Please visit ste-michelle.com or follow Chateau Ste. Michelle on Instagram: @chateaustemichelle, Facebook: Ste. Michelle, Twitter: @stemichelle and the conversation at #CSM50. Additional resources for press are available upon request including a video, visual timeline, historical images and media kit.

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