Antinori And Chateau Ste. Michelle Announce Winemaking Alliance.

WOODINVILLE, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 20, 1998--Tuscan winemaker Piero Antinori and Allen Shoup, president of Washington state's Chateau Ste. Michelle Winery announced the formation of a new partnership today that will make an internationally-styled red wine from the Columbia Valley.

Col Solare will debut in the spring of 1999 with the release of the 1995 vintage. Translated from Italian, Col Solare means "brilliant or shining hill," a reference to the Columbia Valley's sunny growing conditions.

Shoup noted the project is in keeping with Piero Antinori's reputation for innovation. "Piero has never let tradition or boundaries stand in the way of his quest for great wine," said Shoup referring to Antinori's SuperTuscan wines. "He views the world as his vineyard."

According to Antinori, it was the quality of the Columbia Valley's grapes that piqued his interest in a partnership. He first learned of the Columbia Valley in the early 1980s from industry legend Andre Tchelistcheff, a mutual friend and consultant to both Antinori and Chateau Ste. Michelle.

"Andre was very excited about the potential of Washington state to produce world-class wines," recalls Antinori. "Nothing gave him more delight than the joy of discovery, and I felt that excitement too when I first visited the Columbia Valley in 1992. The Columbia Valley has much in common with the best vineyards in the world -- a unique combination of the right climate, sunlight, soil and topography."

Antinori's first trip to Washington state came when he was asked to serve as a judge at the Pacific Northwest Enological Society's annual competition. "I was genuinely taken with the quality and diversity of Washington wines," says Antinori. The following year, he was invited to speak at the World Vinifera Conference in Seattle and became better acquainted with Shoup and the wines of Chateau Ste. Michelle. While Shoup was visiting Antinori in Tuscany some years later, the two began to muse over a partnership. Soon Antinori and his technical director Renzo Cotarella were tasting wines in earnest with Chateau Ste. Michelle winemaker Mike Januik and project coordinator Bob Betz.

Col Solare is styled as a wine for aging with a great concentration of fruit. "This is not a wine for the faint of heart," notes Cotarella adding that he liked the structure Columbia Valley wines offered and wanted to make a wine that played to this strength.

The 1995 vintage will be a blend of cabernet, merlot and syrah. "Blending Sangiovese in this wine would be too predictable," says Antinori with a smile, "We put the wine together barrel by barrel with the best of the vintage."

A suggested retail price has yet to be announced while the winemakers continue to assess the quality of the wine. Production of the 1995 wine will be limited to 1,500 cases. A 1996 vintage will also be released in the spring of 1998 with the 1995.

"French and German winemakers have invested in Washington vineyards in the past, but this is the most ambitious international partnership in Washington state to date," notes Antinori.

Antinori is one of Italy's most important producers and is best known for introducing SuperTuscan wines such as Tignanello and Sassicaia. His company has holdings in Tuscany, Piedmont, Umbria, California and Hungary. The family traces their history in the wine trade back to the 14th century.

Chateau Ste. Michelle pioneered vinifera grape growing in Washington state and has been producing classic European varietal wines since 1967. The winery is best known for its award-winning Chardonnay, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon.

CONTACT: Chateau Ste. Michelle

K. Sims or B. Betz

425/488-4682

In Italy:

Antinori Contact

Albiera Antinori