What Does Ste. Michelle Wine Estates Do?

Total employees593
HeadquartersWoodinville
Founded1933

Ste. Michelle Wine Estates (SMWE) is the third-largest premium wine company in the United States, with a rich heritage dating back to 1934. Headquartered in Woodinville, Washington, SMWE is renowned for its portfolio of acclaimed Washington, Oregon, and California wineries, including Chateau Ste. Michelle, Stag's Leap Wine Cellars, Erath, Col Solare, and Patz & Hall, among others. The company focuses on crafting high-quality wines from premier vineyard sites and is a leader in viticulture and enology research. SMWE also hosts popular concerts and events at its Chateau Ste. Michelle winery, making it a significant cultural and tourist destination in the Pacific Northwest. In 2021, Sycamore Partners acquired Ste. Michelle Wine Estates from Altria Group.

Where Is Ste. Michelle Wine Estates's Headquarters?

Ste. Michelle Wine Estates officeSte. Michelle Wine Estates officeSte. Michelle Wine Estates officeSte. Michelle Wine Estates office
*Images sourced via web search. Rights belong to original owners

HQ Function

Serves as the central hub for corporate operations, winemaking leadership for Washington brands, marketing, sales strategy, finance, and visitor experiences for its flagship Chateau Ste. Michelle winery.

Notable Features:

The iconic Chateau Ste. Michelle, a French-style chateau built in 1976, featuring beautiful grounds, tasting rooms, a wine library, and a renowned outdoor amphitheater that hosts a popular summer concert series.

Work Culture:

A blend of agricultural heritage and corporate professionalism, fostering a passion for winemaking, innovation, and quality. Employees often share an appreciation for the Pacific Northwest landscape and wine culture. The environment encourages collaboration and a commitment to brand excellence.

HQ Significance:

The Woodinville headquarters is not just an office but a major tourist destination and the symbolic heart of Washington wine country. It represents the company's historical roots and its ongoing commitment to the region.

Values Reflected in HQ: Heritage, quality, craftsmanship, hospitality, and a commitment to the Pacific Northwest wine region are strongly reflected in the architecture, operations, and visitor engagement at the headquarters.

Location:

While Ste. Michelle Wine Estates' primary production and vineyard operations are concentrated in Washington, Oregon, and California, its wines are distributed globally. The company supports international sales and marketing efforts to export its diverse portfolio to key markets across Canada, Europe, Asia, and Latin America, working with a network of international distributors and partners.

Street Address:

14111 NE 145th Street

City:

Woodinville

State/Province:

WA

Country:

USA

Where Else Does Ste. Michelle Wine Estates Operate Around the World?

Napa, California, USA

Address: 5766 Silverado Trail, Napa, CA 94558 (Stag's Leap Wine Cellars)

Serves as a crucial operational base in California's most prestigious wine region, focusing on the production and marketing of high-end Cabernet Sauvignon and other luxury varietals. Contributes significantly to SMWE's fine wine reputation.

Dundee, Oregon, USA

Address: 9409 NE Worden Hill Rd, Dundee, OR 97115 (Erath Winery)

Establishes SMWE's strong presence in Oregon's Willamette Valley, renowned for Pinot Noir. Focuses on producing and promoting high-quality Oregon wines, leveraging the unique terroir of the region.

Paterson, Washington, USA

Address: 200 Columbia Crest Dr, Paterson, WA 99345 (Columbia Crest Winery)

Key production and vineyard management hub in Eastern Washington, crucial for supplying large volumes of quality wine for various SMWE brands. Highlights the scale and agricultural backbone of the company.

Buying Intent Signals for Ste. Michelle Wine Estates

Highperformr Signals uncover buying intent and give you clear insights to target the right accounts at the right time — helping your sales, marketing, and GTM teams close more deals, faster.

Notable news
Hiring actively
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance
*Example signal, not calculated in real time

Who's Leading Ste. Michelle Wine Estates? Meet the Executive Team

As of April 2025, Ste. Michelle Wine Estates' leadership includes:

Shawn Conway - Chief Executive Officer
Toby Whitmoyer - President, Washington
Amy Prosenjak - President, Oregon & California Wineries
Melody Davidson - Chief Financial Officer
David Bowman - Chief Operating Officer
Mariya Kovacheva - Chief Commercial Officer
Raquel Espinoza - Senior Vice President, People

Who's Investing in Ste. Michelle Wine Estates?

Ste. Michelle Wine Estates has been backed by several prominent investors over the years, including:

Sycamore Partners

What Leadership Changes Has Ste. Michelle Wine Estates Seen Recently?

Hire4
Exits2

Ste. Michelle Wine Estates has seen significant leadership changes over the past year, notably with the appointment of a new CEO, Shawn Conway, in late 2023. This follows earlier transitions as the company, under new ownership by Sycamore Partners, reshapes its strategy for future growth and market positioning. Key roles in operations and commercial leadership have also been filled or redefined.

Departures

David Dearie, David Dearie stepped down as Interim CEO following the appointment of Shawn Conway.
Lynda Brashear, Lynda Brashear departed her role as President and CEO.

New Appointments:

Shawn Conway, Shawn Conway appointed as new CEO to lead Ste. Michelle Wine Estates.
David Bowman, David Bowman promoted to Chief Operating Officer, overseeing all operations and supply chain.
Mariya Kovacheva, Mariya Kovacheva joined as Chief Commercial Officer to integrate and lead sales and marketing functions.
Melody Davidson, Melody Davidson appointed as Chief Financial Officer to lead the company's financial strategy and operations.

What Technology (Tech Stack) Is Used bySte. Michelle Wine Estates?

Discover the tools Ste. Michelle Wine Estates uses. Highperformr reveals the technologies powering your target accounts — helping your sales, marketing, and GTM teams prioritize smarter and close faster.

Ste. Michelle Wine Estates Email Formats and Examples

Ste. Michelle Wine Estates commonly uses the email format combining the employee's first name and last name, or first initial and last name, separated by a dot, followed by '@smwe.com'.

[first].[last]@smwe.com

Format

jane.doe@smwe.com

Example

85%

Success rate

What's the Latest News About Ste. Michelle Wine Estates?

Wine Business • May 6, 2024

Ste. Michelle Wine Estates news title: Ste. Michelle Wine Estates Appoints Melody Davidson Chief Financial Officer

Ste. Michelle Wine Estates announced the appointment of Melody Davidson as Chief Financial Officer, effective May 6, 2024. Davidson brings over 20 years of finance and leadership experience, primarily in the consumer-packaged goods industry....more

Shanken News Daily • February 12, 2024

Ste. Michelle Wine Estates news title: Ste. Michelle Names Mariya Kovacheva Chief Commercial Officer

Ste. Michelle Wine Estates has appointed Mariya Kovacheva as chief commercial officer. In her new role, Kovacheva will oversee all U.S. and global sales, marketing, direct-to-consumer, and hospitality functions for the company....more

Wine Spectator • October 10, 2023

Ste. Michelle Wine Estates news title: Ste. Michelle Wine Estates Names New CEO

Washington-based Ste. Michelle Wine Estates (SMWE) has appointed Shawn Conway as its new CEO. Conway, a veteran of the beverage alcohol industry, takes the helm as the company aims to revitalize its brands and market strategy under Sycamore Partners' ownership....more

SMWE Press Release • July 26, 2021

Ste. Michelle Wine Estates news title: Sycamore Partners Completes Acquisition of Ste. Michelle Wine Estates

Sycamore Partners, a private equity firm, announced that it has completed its acquisition of Ste. Michelle Wine Estates from Altria Group, Inc. for a purchase price of approximately $1.2 billion. The acquisition positions SMWE for renewed focus on its premium wine portfolio....more

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