Washington State winery partners with French winemakers to launch transatlantic wine brand

By Arabella Mileham

Published: 29 April, 2015

A US winery has partnered with Rhône winemakers Michel Gassier and Philippe Cambie to launch a new trans-Altantic wine range.

The collaboration between Ste. Michelle Wine Estates and the two Rhône winemakers aims to raise the profile of Syrah and Rhône varietals from Washington State, and will see the new brand, Tenet, launched into the market.

The new wines, which are made by Chateau Ste. Michelle winemaker Bob Bertheau and Rhone expert Michel Gassier, comprises Tenet, a Grenache, Syrah & Mourvedre blend from Clumubia Valley, and two Syrahs - The Pundit from Washington State, and Le Fervent from the Costieres de Nimes.

The project was conceived in 2012, but the first wines are from vintage 2013, which gave the two companies time to order to align their vineyard management and winemaking strategies.

Syrah and other Rhône varietals from Washington State have proven that they belong on the world stage," said Ste. Michelle Wine Estates president and chief exective Ted Baseler. "We're very pleased that Tenet Wines will allow more people to enjoy what makes these wines so special."

"We've been working with Syrah and other Rhône varieties in Washington State for a long time but Philippe and Michel brought an interesting exchange of ideas that helped us look at Syrah in new ways," Bertheau said. "We're very happy with these 2013 wines, and we're excited to continue our exploration together with future vintages."

Michel Gassier said that rethinking the approach to Syrah in the Southern Rhône meant the company was able to craft wines with "more complexity and a truer expression of their terroirs".

"Because of its latitude, basalt soils and access to water, Washington State is the perfect spot in the U.S. to produce Rhône varietal wines that are balanced, vibrant and have a sense of place," he added.

Philippe Cambie added that the Syrah and other Rhône varietals from Washington State were closer in style to the wines of the Old World than to those in the New World and this had helped draw the Frenchmen to Washington State.