Ste. Michelle Wine Estates announced in a news release the company has acquired A to Z Wineworks, based in Newberg, Oregon, along with the Rex Hill brand.
With Erath Winery, acquired in 2006, the addition of A to Z and Rex Hill gives Ste. Michelle a substantial presence in Oregon and a position to be a leading producer of the state’s signature variety, Pinot Noir.
“We are delighted to welcome A to Z to the Ste. Michelle family,” David Dearie, president and CEO of Ste. Michelle Wine Estates, said in the release. “The future of Pacific Northwest wines — both Oregon and Washington — is bright, and we’re excited to introduce new consumers across the country and around the world to the full complement of our region’s outstanding wines.”
Amy Prosenjak, president and CEO of A to Z, will join Ste. Michelle as president of Oregon brands, overseeing the company’s combined operations in the state. A to Z founding partners Deb Hatcher, Cheryl Francis and Sam Tannahill will join Ste. Michelle as consultants.
“We could not have found a better partner than Ste. Michelle to carry on the legacy of both A to Z and Rex Hill,” said Hatcher, in the release. “They understand the Pacific Northwest better than anyone, and they know what it takes to promote an entire region on the global stage.”
According to the release, the purchase of A to Z is the first strategic acquisition for Ste. Michelle Wine Estates since the company was acquired by private equity firm Sycamore Partners in 2021. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
A to Z became a certified B Corporation in 2014, in recognition of its positive environmental practices. For more information about the winery, visit: atozwineworks.com.
—by Jonelle Mejica
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