IN THE
NEWS
JAN 22, 2021
HOW ARE WINERIES DOING? ARE THEY INTERESTED IN SELLING?
One of the findings of the 2021 Silicon Valley Bank State of The Industry Report was that wineries have been performing relatively well financially, given the difficulties... Read more >
JAN 17, 2020
THE WALLS VINEYARDS ACQUIRES FAMED 10-ACRE ROCKGARDEN VINEYARD
The Walls Vineyards has purchased the 10-acre Rockgarden Vineyard in the Rocks District of Milton Freewater AVA in the southern Walla Walla Valley. The well-established... Read more >
JAN 15, 2021
LESSONS FOR THE POST-COVID WINE INDUSTRY: BOOST DIGITAL FOCUS, MAKE TASTINGS BY APPOINTMENT
The pandemic will recede at some point this year, boosting wine sales as lockdowns loosen and restaurants begin to reopen, travel resumes and deferred events are held... Read more >
JAN 14, 2021
BOOM TIMES AHEAD FOR US WINE INDUSTRY
The wine industry could be in for a big year in 2021 because ending the pandemic will unleash celebrations like we haven't seen since the end of World War II, a leading industry... Read more >
JAN 7, 2021
NORTHWEST RESTAURATEURS PURCHASE BASEL CELLARS IN WALLA WALLA
The first full week of 2021 brought news of a second significant transaction in the Walla Walla Valley wine industry — the sale of showpiece Basel Cellars Estate Winery to a group of... Read more >
JAN 6, 2021
BASEL CELLARS PURCHASED BY NEW OWNERSHIP GROUP
On December 30th, Walla Walla Valley’s Basel Cellars was purchased by a group of local businessmen. The group includes individuals who founded Crossbuck Brewing... Read more >
JAN 6, 2021
BASEL CELLARS SOLD TO WALLA WALLA BUSINESS OWNERS
Basel Cellars Estate is now headed by a group if investors that includes Walla Walla business owners Dan Thiessen, Paul MacKay... Read more >
MAY 25, 2020
A TASTE OF WHAT'S TO COME
Small wineries and growers have been hit particularly hard by the economic slowdown... Read more >
MAY 7, 2020
WINE FOUNDATION ELECTS NEW BOARD MEMBERS
The Washington Wine Industry Foundation announced in a news release the election of Erik McLaughlin, Kristina Mielke van Löben Sels and Alex Oh to the foundation’s board of... Read more >
MAY 5, 2020
WASHINGTON WINE INDUSTRY FOUNDATION APPOINTS NEW BOARD MEMBERS
Erik McLaughlin, Kristina Mielke van Löben Sels, and Alex Oh have been elected to the Washington Wine Industry Foundation Board of... Read more >
FEB 5, 2020
WINE ANALYTICS REPORT: M&A MARKET STABLE
An oversupply of grapes, moderating growth in wine sales and the threat of recession are pushing buyers to be more discriminating when it comes to evaluating potential... Read more >
NOV 17, 2019
OWEN ROE SALE INDICATES CONTINUED OUTSIDE INTERESTED IN WASHINGTON WINE INDUSTRY
Two decades ago, David and Angelica O’Reilly started Owen Roe in the Willamette Valley wine region in Oregon. Around that time, however, David O'Reilly started making wines... Read more >
OCT 31, 2019
WHAT'S IMPACTING THE WINE M&A LANDSCAPE
2019 has certainly been a busy year on the M&A front. A panel at the recent Wine Industry Financial Symposium discussed what's happening in the wine industry marketplace and... Read more >
OCT 19, 2019
METIS CEO NAMED ONE OF TOP 50 INDUSTRY LEADERS
As we put the finishing touches on this month’s issue we’ve just wrapped up the annual winejobs.com SUMMIT, an event Wine Business Monthly produces for human resources... Read more >
OCT 12, 2019
WINE ANALYTICS REPORT: FOCUS ON DTC WINE SALES
While the latest Wine Industry Metrics reveal positive sales growth in September, the U.S. wine industry is riven with concerns over flattening sales volume. Direct-to-consumer and... Read more >
OCT 4, 2019
LOCAL WINE CHIEFS MAKE NW LEADER LIST
Erik McLaughlin, the Walla Walla-based leader behind the Northwest’s leading mergers and acquisitions firm for wine and other businesses, has been named to Wine Business Monthly’s... Read more >
SEP 26, 2019
PACIFIC NORTHWEST'S ICONIC OWEN ROE WINERY SOLD TO CALIFORNIA COMPANY
Vintage Wine Estates, a private wine company based in Santa Rosa, California, announced on Sept. 23 its recent acquisition of Owen Roe, a highly regarded Pacific Northwest winery... Read more >
SEP 25, 2019
FALL OPENING PLANNED FOR MAIN ST. HOTEL
A 1960s-era Main Street hotel nears the end of its transformation to a modern one-of-a-kind boutique lodging operation designed as a launchpad for adventure-seekers... Read more >
SEP 23, 2019
VINTAGE WINE ESTATES IS EXPANDING IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST
Vintage Wine Estates is expanding in the Pacific Northwest with the acquisition of Yakima, Washington-based winery Owen Roe. Financials weren’t disclosed... Read more >
SEP 23, 2019
SANTA ROSA'S VINTAGE WINE ESTATES ADDS TO PACIFIC NORTHWEST PORTFOLIO WITH OWEN ROE 'CULT' BRANDS
Vintage Wine Estates continues to expand its Pacific Northwest holdings with the acquisition of an eastern Washington "cult" winery known for Oregon pinot noir and Washington red wines... Read more >
SEP 23, 2019
VINTAGE WINE ESTATES CONTINUES TO GROW IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST WITH THE ACQUISITION OF OWEN ROE
Vintage Wine Estates announced the addition of Owen Roe, with locations in Yakima, Washington (winery, vineyards and tasting room) and Willamette Valley, Oregon (tasting room)... Read more >
SEP 11, 2019
THE FUTURE OF THE US WINE INDUSTRY
The Wine Industry Financial Symposium, the premier event covering the financial, business and strategic issues of the wine industry set for Tuesday, October 1 and Wednesday, October 2, 2019... Read more >
APR 22, 2019
METIS ADVISES HISTORIC CONNER LEE VINEYARD IN SALE TO WASHINGTON WINEGROWERS JOSH LAWRENCE AND TOM MERKLE
METIS announced today the sale of Conner Lee Vineyard, one of Washington’s most highly regarded sites. The vineyard was acquired by a partnership between Josh Lawrence... Read more >
APR 21, 2019
JOSH LAWRENCE, TOM MERKLE TEAM UP TO BUY CONNER LEE VINEYARD
Tom Merkle, honorary grower for the Auction of Washington Wines in 2017, announced Friday, April 19, 2019, that he and Josh Lawrence of Lawrence Vineyards and Gård Vintners... Read more >
APR 21, 2019
TOP WASHINGTON VINEYARD GETS NEW OWNERS
One of the most recognized vineyards in the state will be under new ownership. Conner Lee Vineyards — the property outside of Othello whose grapes have produced wines for more... Read more >
APR 19, 2019
WASHINGTON'S HISTORIC CONNER LEE VINEYARD SELLS
Josh Lawrence (of Lawrence Vineyards and Gård Vintners) and Tom Merkle (of Wautoma Springs Vineyard and Wautoma Springs Wines) announced today a new partnership... Read more >
JUL 19, 2018
OREGON WINERIES STEP UP, OUTSIDE PLAYERS MOVE IN
Oregon is a special place, runs the conventional line: it may not have the perfect climate for wine (the claim neighboring Washington makes for itself) but it is home to small, family-run... Read more >
JUN 6, 2018
FLUSH WITH CASH, BANKS SEE MORE PLATEAUING OF HIGH VINEYARD PRICES
As the record prices for Napa and Sonoma vineyards limit sales to all but the most wellfunded principals, M&A advisors and bank loan officers tell WBM they are seeing increased... Read more >
MAY 1, 2018
THERE'S BUZZ IN WALLA WALLA AS SEATTLE INVESTORS BUY ABEJA VINEYARDS AND INN
Seattle-based Columbia Hospitality has announced a new management and operating agreement with the upscale Inn at Abeja and Abeja vineyards, a 38-acre property in Walla Walla... Read more >
MAY 2, 2018
ABEJA OWNERS SELL MAJORITY INTEREST
Ken and Ginger Harrison, founders of the Abeja winery and inn, have sold a majority interest in the company to two ownership groups: Arnie Prentice of Seattle’s USI Kibble... Read more >
APR 30, 2018
TWO LOCAL INVESTMENT GROUPS JOIN ABEJA FOUNDERS KEN AND GINGER HARRISON IN NEW OWNERSHIP AGREEMENT
Ken and Ginger Harrison, founders of Abeja, have sold majority interest in the acclaimed Walla Walla winery, and the luxury country inn, to two new ownership groups with local ties... Read more >
APR 29, 2018
SEATTLE BUSINESSMEN BUY CONTROLLING INTEREST IN WALLA WALLA'S ABEJA
A year ago, Abeja winery owners Ken and Ginger Harrison opened the gate to their iconic wine country inn to help winemakers Myles Anderson and Gordy Venneri celebrate their sale... Read more >
APR 29, 2018
MILL CREEK ROAD FIXTURE ABEJA SOLD
Abeja, Walla Walla’s renowned Mill Creek Road winery and its farmstead retreat on 38 acres, is under new ownership. Founders Ken and Ginger Harrison have sold the majority... Read more >
FEB 22, 2018
OREGON STILL A LURE AMID WINE INDUSTRY'S SHIFTS
The U.S. wine industry is “at the tail end of a 20-year growth period,” particularly for higher-end wines, but there are plenty of positive signs for Oregon, according to a new report... Read more >
FEB 21, 2018
BUSINESS MOVERS: MASON TERRY NAMED TO LEAD THE OREGON RENEWABLE ENERGY CENTER
Metis, a northwest company that advises wine, hospitality, and beverage alcohol on capital transactions, such as mergers and acquisitions announces the addition... Read more >
FEB 13, 2018
MERGERS, ACQUISITIONS FIRM LAUNCHES WITH AN OFFICE IN WALLA WALLA
You’re familiar already with the work of Pacific Northwest mergers and acquisitions advisory firm Metis. It’s the company that quietly launched a year ago out of Exvere... Read more >
JAN 15, 2018
NEW OWNERSHIP GROUP PURCHASES WALLA WALLA'S RED LION INN & SUITES, ANNOUNCES PLANNED RENOVATION
A new ownership group has purchased the Red Lion Inn & Suites Walla Walla, effective January 12, 2018, and will begin a comprehensive renovation of the property's 85 guest rooms... Read more >
JAN 18, 2018
STRONG DEAL MAKING KICKS OFF 2018
While the start of each year brings a number of transactions worked out in the previous months, conditions are favorable for renewed merger and acquisition activity in 2018... Read more >
JAN 18, 2018
VINTAGE WINE ESTATES EXPANDS PRESENCE IN PACIFIC NORTHWEST WITH ACQUISITION OF TAMARACK CELLARS
US-based Vintage Wine has acquired Washington, US-based wine producer Tamarack Cellars, regarded for its range of wines including Firehouse Red Blend, merlot and cabernet... Read more >
JAN 16, 2018
VINTAGE WINE ESTATES BUYS TAMARACK CELLARS
Vintage Wine Estates has acquired Tamarack Cellars in Walla Walla, Washington, to expand its Pacific Northwest footprint.... Read more >
JAN 14, 2018
LONGTIME WALLA WALLA WINERY TAMARACK CELLARS CHANGES HANDS
Tamarack Cellars, the pioneer winery that planted roots in a renovated World War II Army air base firehouse 20 years ago and honored it with an acclaimed signature red blend... Read more >
NOV 17, 2017
INDUSTRY VETERANS SHARE CAREER LESSONS LEARNED
Those who have worked in the restaurant industry also tend to have a customer focused mindset, according to Erik McLaughlin, managing partner at Metis... Read more >