June 16, 2022

Ste. Michelle Wine Estates

Ste. Michelle Wine Estates, the largest winery in the Pacific Northwest and the third-largest premium winery in the United States, announced several changes to its winemaking team, under the direction of Chief Winemaker Juan Muñoz-Oca. After 9 years as winemaker for Col Solare and 26 years with Ste. Michelle Wine Estates, Darel Allwine will retire at the end of June. Allwine joined Col Solare in 2006 as a cellar master before taking over as head winemaker in 2013. Stephanie Cohen, who has been working alongside Allwine at Col Solare since 2020, has been named winemaker. Cohen has held vineyard and cellar roles at wineries in New Zealand, California, Australia, and Oregon prior to joining Col Solare. And, after nearly 20 years at the helm of one of Oregon's founding wineries, Gary Horner of Erath Winery, will also retire at the end of the month. Leah Adint has been named head winemaker for Erath. Adint is just the third head winemaker in Erath's 50-year history. She has held viticulture and winemaking roles at wineries in California, Australia, France, Switzerland, and Washington. Prior to joining the winemaking team at Erath in 2021, she was the traveling winemaker for Chateau Ste. Michelle. Col Solare is a partnership between Chateau Ste. Michelle and Italy's Marchesi Antinori. The Ste. Michelle Wine Estates portfolio includes Chateau Ste. Michelle, 14 Hands Winery, Columbia Crest, Intrinsic Wine, Erath Winery, Patz & Hall, Borne of Fire, Northstar, and Spring Valley Vineyard, along with several other premium brands.