Ste. Michelle closes two Eastern Washington wine tasting rooms – Good Fruit Grower

Ste. Michelle Wine Estates has closed two of its Jap Washington tasting rooms, together with 14 Fingers in Prosser. (Ross Courtney/Good Fruit Grower)Washington’s largest wine producer, Ste. Michelle Wine Estates, has closed two of its tasting rooms a yr after steep cuts to its quantity.The Columbia Crest tasting room on the firm’s manufacturing facility in Paterson and the 14 Fingers tasting room in Prosser have each closed, mentioned Lynda Eller, an organization spokeswoman, in an announcement to Good Fruit Grower.“We have now made the choice to shut our 14 Fingers and Columbia Crest tasting rooms in Jap Washington as we proceed our concentrate on winemaking and rising these iconic Washington wine manufacturers nationally,” Eller mentioned. “It’s been a privilege to host native tasting room guests through the years, and we hope followers will proceed to take pleasure in their favourite wines by way of their native grocery shops, wine outlets and eating places.”Ste. Michelle nonetheless has three Washington tasting rooms — Spring Valley Winery and Northstar Vineyard in Walla Walla and Chateau Ste. Michelle in Woodinville.In summer season 2023, Ste. Michelle requested its growers to cut back grape quantity by roughly 40 p.c and renegotiate present contracts, growers instructed Good Fruit Grower on the time.The corporate is owned by New York non-public fairness agency Sycamore Companions Administration.The 14 Fingers property additionally features a manufacturing facility, which Ste. Michelle closed in 2023. The Horse Heaven Wine Co. then bought 14 Fingers and crushed grapes there this yr, whereas Ste. Michelle leased again the tasting room and viticulture workplace house, mentioned Justin Andrews. Ste. Michelle will proceed to make use of the workplace house, Eller mentioned.Horse Heaven Wine Co. is operated by the Andrews household, which owns McKinley Springs Vineyard. Justin Andrews is a companion in each Prosser-based corporations.The 14 Fingers facility has a capability of about 15,000 tons. Horse Heaven Wine Co. deliberate to crush solely about 1,000 tons this yr.—by Ross Courtney



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