Washington’s Ste Michelle Wine Estates has inherited its third owner in just over five years.
The 91-year-old company, which owns a raft of brands along with operations in California and Oregon as well as its home state, has been acquired by The Wyckoff Family. The purchase, from private equity group Sycamore Partners, was confirmed yesterday (8 December), although financial details were not disclosed.
Sycamore Partners spent a reported US$1.2bn on buying the business from Marlboro cigarette owner Altria Group in October 2021.
The Wyckoffs have been producing “high-quality premium” wine grapes in Washington state since 1950, counting Ste Michelle Wine Estates among its customers. The family business owns vineyards in the Wahluke Slope, Yakima Valley and Horse Heaven Hills AVAs (American Viticultural Areas).
“Ste Michelle has been the long-term driving force behind Washington’s wine industry,” said Wyckoff Farms CEO Court Wyckoff. “As partners since the early 1980s, we deeply believe in Ste Michelle Wine Estates’ outstanding portfolio of … north-west wine brands.
“We look forward to working with the Ste Michelle team to build on its leadership, invest in winemaking quality and champion Washington’s wine grape growers and Washington wine to consumers across the country.”
Two months ago, the departure of CEO Shawn Conway prompted Ste Michelle to appoint CCO David Bowman and chief financial & supply chain officer Anna Mosier as co-leads of the business.
