Ste. Michelle Wine Estates Unveils ESTIVAL, Celebrating the Extraordinary Quality of Washington State White Wines

WOODINVILLE, Wash.

ESTIVAL highlights aromatic white wines from the Columbia Valley, with the 2024 Sauvignon Blanc as the first release

Ste. Michelle Wine Estates is proud to announce the launch of ESTIVAL, which celebrates aromatic white wines from Washington State’s Columbia Valley, a region that grows outstanding white varieties, including Sauvignon Blanc. The first release of ESTIVAL, the 2024 Sauvignon Blanc, is sourced from Horse Heaven Hills, a sub-AVA of the Columbia Valley, known for wines that are distinct, layered and vivacious, yet balanced and elegant.

Named after the Latin notion of belonging to summer, ESTIVAL aims to capture the essence of long, warm summer days, abundant sunshine, and a time to relax and enjoy the rhythm of the season – emphasizing aromatics, vibrancy and freshness. While crafting these wines, the extended sun exposure, growing degree days, cool nights and proximity to the Columbia River in Horse Heaven Hills allows for slower ripening, acid retention and flavor intensity in the Sauvignon Blanc.

“We are excited to introduce more people to the exceptional quality of Sauvignon Blanc from the Columbia Valley, and especially the Horse Heaven Hills sub-AVA,” says David Bowman, Ste. Michelle Wine Estates’ Chief Commercial Officer. “The region has a long history of producing exciting aromatic white wines, and Sauvignon Blanc is no different. We believe the distinctive style of Sauvignon Blanc from this special place will turn some heads.”

Lacey Steffey is Head Winemaker for ESTIVAL. After earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Agricultural Systems at UC Davis and gaining experience at a few California wineries, Steffey planted roots in Washington in 2015, and has been with Chateau Ste. Michelle since 2016, taking on the role of Vintage Assistant at the Canoe Ridge Estate winery, and then in 2018 as Winemaker. Energy, innovation, and warmth are what make Steffey the perfect fit for the role as Head Winemaker at ESTIVAL, where she brings a radiant nature to her winemaking philosophy, embodying the region’s distinct energy, diversity, and refreshing character.

When it comes to crafting ESTIVAL wines, Steffey has played an integral role in the aromatic white winemaking at Chateau Ste. Michelle, particularly in the Riesling program. Through her vineyard management and overseeing key winemaking decisions, she worked with a wide range of vineyard sites, which gave her the opportunity to expand her knowledge and experience a larger scope of what Washington State can offer. She believes the grapes from the stunning Horse Heaven Hills AVA show a pure ripe character with vibrant acidity, and sees the Sauvignon Blanc as threading the needle between citrus and fruit forward.

“I’m thrilled to be on the ground floor of this incredibly special project, where we have the opportunity to reimagine the vibrancy and elegance of white wine coming from the Columbia Valley,” notes Steffey. “The 2024 Sauvignon Blanc showcases exactly why we chose the Horse Heaven Hills for this wine! Long, warm sunny days and cool nights, combined with an ever-present breeze coming off the Columbia River, set the stage for ideal growing conditions. Careful vineyard management allows for long hangtime, amazing flavor development and natural acid retention. Once the fruit is in the winery, I have creative license to play with yeast, fermentation vessels, and aging techniques…which all lead to a symphony of aromas, flavors and textures that come together beautifully in the final blend.”

The 2024 ESTIVAL Sauvignon Blanc offers flavors of pineapple, lemongrass, grapefruit and passionfruit, finishing seamlessly with layers of minerality, salinity, and lime zest. Neutral barrel fermentation and lees aging give the wine a beautiful texture and lovely weight on the palate.

This first vintage of ESTIVAL, available beginning July 2025, was crafted in limited production, and will be featured in top restaurants across the country. For more information, please visit estivalwine.com

About ESTIVAL - www.estivalwine.com
ESTIVAL, the name rooted in the Latin notion of “hibernating in summer”, aims to capture the essence of long, warm summer days, abundant sunshine and a time to relax and enjoy the rhythm of the season. ESTIVAL celebrates white wines from the Columbia Valley, sourcing mainly from the Horse Heaven Hills AVA, along with other top appellations in the region. The inaugural wine to launch is the 2024 Sauvignon Blanc.

About Ste. Michelle Wine Estates - www.smwe.com
Ste. Michelle Wine Estates, an icon of the Pacific Northwest, was the first premium wine company to establish roots in Washington state in 1933. Now more than 90 years later, we remain among the leading and most acclaimed premium wine companies in the U.S. with wines found in every state and over 100 countries. Showcasing distinctive Washington and Oregon growing regions, our award-winning wines are crafted with an unwavering focus on quality and a commitment to sustainability. The portfolio includes Chateau Ste. Michelle, 14 Hands, Columbia Crest, Liquid Light, Spring Valley Vineyard, and Northstar from Washington; and A to Z, Erath, and REX HILL from Oregon.

PHOTOS:
ESTIVAL Bottle Shot LINK

Winemaker Lacey Steffey LINK