Ste. Michelle Wine Estates
Wins Acclaim from Major Wine Publications
Ste.
Michelle Wine Estates Acclaimed by Major
Wine Publications WOODINVILLE, WA, Wine
Spectator has named two wines from the
Ste. Michelle Wine Estates portfolio to
its 2006 list of the “Top 100 Most
Exciting Wines in the World."
At
#25 is Spring Valley Vineyard's 2003 Uriah
Walla Walla Valley red wine, which earned
a 94-point rating from the magazine. Also
on the list is Chateau Ste. Michelle's
Canoe Ridge Estate Chardonnay, which scored
92 points.
This
comes with the recent news that Wine Enthusiast
magazine has named Chateau Ste. Michelle's
2003 Ethos Syrah #8 on its list of “Top
100 Wines of 2006," with a score
of 94 points.
Two
wines from the Ste. Michelle portfolio
were named to the Enthusiast's “Top
100 Best Buys" list. Taking the #1
spot was Columbia Crest's 2002 Grand Estates
Shiraz, rated at 90 points; joining it
was Snoqualmie's 2004 Columbia Valley
Sauvignon Blanc.
Ste.
Michelle wineries also earned kudos from
Wine & Spirits. Chateau Ste. Michelle
was awarded its 12th “Winery of
the Year" honor by the magazine for
2007, tying it with Shafer of California
for the most-honored American winery.
Conn Creek, the California producer of
limited release Cabernet Sauvignons, was
also named a “Winery of the Year".
In
addition to these accolades, Columbia
Crest's 2002 Two Vines Merlot and Domaine
Ste. Michelle's Columbia Valley Extra
Dry sparkling wine were named to Wine
& Spirits list of “Top 100 Best
Values of 2006."
“This
has been quite a year for us," said
Ted Baseler, President and CEO of Ste.
Michelle Wine Estates. “Once again
it validates our goal to give the winemakers
at our wineries the freedom and premium
grapes to produce the very best wines
in the world."
The
Wine Spectator's Top 100 selections were
culled from nearly 13,500 newly released
wines in 2005, which were then narrowed
down to the nearly 3,000 outstanding (90
points or higher on a 100 point scale.)
From these finalists, according to the
magazine, the final 100 were selected
based on quality, value, availability,
and an X-factor: Excitement.
Since
1995, Ste. Michelle Wine Estates has placed
31 wines on the Wine Spectator's annual
Top 100 list, including Columbia Crest's
2001 Grand Estates Merlot and Columbia
Crest's 2002 Walter Clore Private Reserve
red wine. Chateau Ste. Michelle's Eroica
Riesling, made with acclaimed German winemaker
Ernst Loosen, has been on Wine Spectator's
Top 100 list five times.
“The
recognition by Wine Spectator of four
superb wines from Washington reinforces
that we are one of the world's top wine-producing
regions,added Baseler. The other Washington
wines included on this year's Wine Spectator
Top 100 are Quilceda Creek's 2003 Cabernet
Sauvignon at #2 and Novelty Hill's 2003
Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon at
#84.
Ste.
Michelle Wine Estates is based in Woodinville,
Washington, on the historic Chateau Ste.
Michelle grounds, east of downtown Seattle.
The company's vineyards are east of the
Cascade Mountain Range, also the location
of the company's Spring Valley, Northstar,
Columbia Crest and Snoqualmie wineries.
The company also makes Domaine Ste. Michelle
sparkling wine there.
In
2006, a state-of-the-art winery was built
in the Red Mountain AVA for Col Solare,
the luxury red wine made by Ste. Michelle
and Tuscanyâ's Piero Antinori. Ste.
Michelle Wine Estates is also the exclusive
distributor of Antinori wines in the United
States.
For Futher Information:
Gracie Doyle 425.415.3359