Marchesi Antinori Col Solare Credit: Col Solare

US-based Ste. Michelle Wine Estates (SMWE) has sold its stake in Washington winery Col Solare to co-owner Marchesi Antinori.

The Pacific Northwest winery was jointly owned by SMWE and Italian vintner Marchesi Antinori, having been founded by the pair in 1995.

The Col Solare winery operates a 29-acre estate in Washington, producing wines under its Red Mountain and Col Solare brands.

SMWE sold its California-based Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars to Marchesi Antinori last year. A spokesperson for SMWE told Just Drinks the sale of Col Solare was a “natural progression and made sense for both companies”.

The group added the disposal allows it to “increase focus, energy and investment” on its Spring Valley Vineyards, Northstar, Eroica and Rex Hill wineries, as well as its Ste. Michelle Wines.

The acquisition of Col Solare is expected to close by the end of the month. Financial details were not disclosed.

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Marchesi Antinori has been involved in the region since 1985. The company’s footprint in Napa Valley encompasses around 500 acres of vineyards, with Antica Napa Valley Winery worth around 100 acres of that.

“Our family has been fascinated by the unique terroir of Red Mountain AVA since the early 90s,” Marchesi Antinori president Piero Antinori said.

“The full ownership of Col Solare, combined with the acquisition of Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars in 2023 in Napa Valley, is a proof of how much we believe in these exceptional wine territories. I have to thank Ste Michelle Wine Estates for our collaboration.”

Founded in 1934, Ste. Michelle Wine Estates is the largest winery in the Pacific Northwest and it distributes in over 100 countries.

Last month, SMWE sold one of its Washington winemaking sites to local winegrower, Horse Heaven Hills Wine Company. The facility is located in the southern part of the state in Prosser.