Ste. Michelle buys Oregon’s Erath Winery

SEATTLE — The largest wine company in the Northwest has announced plans to acquire one of Oregon’s best-known producers of pinot noir.

Ste. Michelle Wine Estates will buy Erath Winery of Dundee, Ore., effective July 1. The purchase includes the Erath brand name, Erath Winery inventory and the vineyard’s long-term contracts for all Oregon grapes grown by owner Dick Erath.

Erath was one of the first to recognize the potential of growing wine grapes in Oregon’s Willamette Valley and worked to introduce modern grape growing practices there. He was one of several Oregon winemakers to secure importation of French grape varieties into Oregon and produced his first vintage in 1972.

Erath plans to continue to farm seven signature vineyards in the Dundee Hills, including Erath Estate Vineyards.

Ste. Michelle has long been interested in Oregon wines, said Ted Baseler, Ste. Michelle Wine Estates president and chief executive officer.

“We have admired Dick Erath’s work for many years,” Baseler said in a statement Tuesday. “For nearly 40 years, Dick has dedicated himself to leading Oregon to become the birthplace of New World pinot noir, and we are privileged to join this great community.”

Baseler said there will be no major changes to Erath’s operation in the near future but that Ste. Michelle would expand on the work that Erath already had accomplished.

Dick Erath said he was particular about who purchased his winery.

“Of course, it had to be someone committed to making quality wine, but also someone who would be a good steward of the land and a good citizen of this community,” he said.

As part of the sales agreement with Erath, Ste. Michelle will give money to a charitable foundation to advance viticultural and enological science and education in Oregon. Other terms of the sale were not released.