PROSSER, Wash. – More than 100 grape growers, winemakers, government officials and luminaries enjoyed warm, sunny skies Thursday during the grand opening of 14 Hands Winery, a facility that celebrates one of Ste. Michelle Wine Estates’ biggest success stories.
The 14 Hands brand began just a decade ago as a restaurant-only label but quickly blossomed into a winery that produces more than 1 million cases annually – making it Washington’s third-largest winery after Chateau Ste. Michelle and Columbia Crest.
As a result of the success, Ste. Michelle last year decided to move production of its Snoqualmie Winery brand to Columbia Crest about 50 miles south in Paterson and rebrand the winery as 14 Hands. It also spent nearly $1 million in new equipment, including high-tech self-cleaning tanks that help automate large-scale winemaking.
Ted Baseler, CEO of Ste. Michelle, led the grand opening – marveling at 14 Hands’ success with consumers, noting that “the sky is the limit” with the brand.
Here are a few photos from Thursday’s event.
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