ESTIVAL highlights fragrant white wines from the Columbia Valley, with the 2024 Sauvignon Blanc as the primary launch
July 17, 2025 (Woodinville, WA) — Ste. Michelle Wine Estates is proud to announce the launch of ESTIVAL, which celebrates fragrant white wines from Washington State’s Columbia Valley, a area that grows excellent white varieties, together with Sauvignon Blanc. The primary launch of ESTIVAL, the 2024 Sauvignon Blanc, is sourced from Horse Heaven Hills, a sub-AVA of the Columbia Valley, identified for wines which might be distinct, layered and vivacious, but balanced and stylish.
Named after the Latin notion of belonging to summer season, ESTIVAL goals to seize the essence of lengthy, heat summer season days, ample sunshine, and a time to loosen up and benefit from the rhythm of the season – emphasizing aromatics, vibrancy and freshness. Whereas crafting these wines, the prolonged solar publicity, rising diploma days, cool nights and proximity to the Columbia River in Horse Heaven Hills permits for slower ripening, acid retention and taste depth within the Sauvignon Blanc.
“We’re excited to introduce extra folks to the distinctive high quality of Sauvignon Blanc from the Columbia Valley, and particularly the Horse Heaven Hills sub-AVA,” says David Bowman, Ste. Michelle Wine Estates’ Chief Industrial Officer. “The area has a protracted historical past of manufacturing thrilling fragrant white wines, and Sauvignon Blanc is not any completely different. We consider the distinctive type of Sauvignon Blanc from this particular place will flip some heads.”
Lacey Steffey is Head Winemaker for ESTIVAL. After incomes a Bachelor’s Diploma in Agricultural Techniques at UC Davis and gaining expertise at a couple of California wineries, Steffey planted roots in Washington in 2015, and has been with Chateau Ste. Michelle since 2016, taking up the position of Classic Assistant on the Canoe Ridge Property vineyard, after which in 2018 as Winemaker. Power, innovation, and heat are what make Steffey the proper match for the position as Head Winemaker at ESTIVAL, the place she brings a radiant nature to her winemaking philosophy, embodying the area’s distinct power, variety, and refreshing character.
In relation to crafting ESTIVAL wines, Steffey has performed an integral position within the fragrant white winemaking at Chateau Ste. Michelle, significantly within the Riesling program. Via her winery administration and overseeing key winemaking choices, she labored with a variety of winery websites, which gave her the chance to increase her data and expertise a bigger scope of what Washington State can provide. She believes the grapes from the beautiful Horse Heaven Hills AVA present a pure ripe character with vibrant acidity, and sees the Sauvignon Blanc as threading the needle between citrus and fruit ahead.
“I’m thrilled to be on the bottom floor of this extremely particular venture, the place we’ve got the chance to reimagine the vibrancy and class of white wine coming from the Columbia Valley,” notes Steffey. “The 2024 Sauvignon Blanc showcases precisely why we selected the Horse Heaven Hills for this wine! Lengthy, heat sunny days and funky nights, mixed with an ever-present breeze coming off the Columbia River, set the stage for superb rising circumstances. Cautious winery administration permits for lengthy hangtime, superb taste improvement and pure acid retention. As soon as the fruit is within the vineyard, I’ve artistic license to play with yeast, fermentation vessels, and growing older methods…which all result in a symphony of aromas, flavors and textures that come collectively superbly within the remaining mix.”
The 2024 ESTIVAL Sauvignon Blanc provides flavors of pineapple, lemongrass, grapefruit and passionfruit, ending seamlessly with layers of minerality, salinity, and lime zest. Impartial barrel fermentation and lees growing older give the wine an exquisite texture and wonderful weight on the palate.
This primary classic of ESTIVAL, obtainable starting July 2025, was crafted in restricted manufacturing, and can be featured in prime eating places throughout the nation. For extra data, please go to estivalwine.com.
About ESTIVAL – https://estivalwine.com/
ESTIVAL, the title rooted within the Latin notion of “hibernating in summer season”, goals to seize the essence of lengthy, heat summer season days, ample sunshine and a time to loosen up and benefit from the rhythm of the season. ESTIVAL celebrates white wines from the Columbia Valley, sourcing primarily from the Horse Heaven Hills AVA, together with different prime appellations within the area. The inaugural wine to launch is the 2024 Sauvignon Blanc.
About Ste. Michelle Wine Estates – https://www.smwe.com/
Ste. Michelle Wine Estates, an icon of the Pacific Northwest, was the primary premium wine firm to determine roots in Washington state in 1933. Now greater than 90 years later, we stay among the many main and most acclaimed premium wine firms within the U.S. with wines present in each state and over 100 nations. Showcasing distinctive Washington and Oregon rising areas, the award-winning wines are crafted with an unwavering give attention to high quality and a dedication to sustainability. The portfolio consists of Chateau Ste. Michelle, 14 Palms, Columbia Crest, Liquid Gentle, Spring Valley Winery, and Northstar from Washington; and A to Z, Erath, and REX HILL from Oregon.
