A giant Northwest winemaker makes a big cut in production, a move growers find unpalatable

Ste. Michelle Wine Estates will buy half the grapes it contracted for this fall, which could have ripple effects throughout the region
The massive Northwest wine beast – Ste. Michelle Wine Estates – has announced to its contracted Washington wine grape growers that it’s not taking nearly half of its contracted fruit this fall.

Ste. Michelle Wine Estates makes up around half of Washington’s wine industry. Ste. Michelle said it is taking in 40 percent less grapes in Washington contracts, but so far Oregon’s wine industry – whose largest producer is also Ste. Michelle Estates with brands like A to Z and Erath – hasn’t faced the same blow.