Wyckoff Family Acquires Washington’s Largest Wine Company in Landmark Deal After 50 Years of Outside Ownership

The Wyckoff family, a third-generation agribusiness owner based in the Yakima Valley of Eastern Washington, has acquired Ste. Michelle Wine Estates, the state’s largest wine company. The deal was announced on December 8 and marks a significant shift in the ownership of Ste. Michelle, which will now be under the control of a private, Washington-based company for the first time in more than half a century.

Ste. Michelle Wine Estates, previously owned by Sycamore Partners, is known for its extensive portfolio of wine brands and its vineyards and facilities across Washington. The acquisition includes all of Ste. Michelle’s assets, making it one of the most notable transactions in the region’s wine industry in recent years.

The Wyckoff family has been involved in agriculture since 1950 and is recognized for producing premium wine grapes, custom wines, and other agricultural products throughout Washington, Idaho, and Oregon. For over forty years, they have worked closely with Ste. Michelle as one of its top growers and winemaking collaborators. This longstanding partnership laid the groundwork for the acquisition.

Holland & Knight represented the Wyckoff family in this transaction. The legal team was led by Scott MacCormack, a partner specializing in mergers and acquisitions. He was supported by a group of attorneys with expertise in antitrust, tax, real estate, intellectual property, labor and employment, environmental law, litigation, alcoholic beverages regulation, debt finance, financial services, private wealth services, and executive compensation.

The acquisition comes at a time when Washington’s wine industry continues to grow in both size and reputation. Ste. Michelle Wine Estates has played a central role in promoting Washington wines nationally and internationally. With new ownership rooted in local agriculture and long-term collaboration with Ste. Michelle, industry observers are watching closely to see how this change will influence the company’s direction.

Holland & Knight has recently been recognized as Private Equity Law Firm of the Year by the Global M&A Network and is regularly ranked among leading law firms for mergers and acquisitions by several industry benchmarks.

The Wyckoff family’s purchase of Ste. Michelle Wine Estates is expected to reinforce local ties within Washington’s wine sector while potentially opening new opportunities for growth and innovation under private ownership. The transaction underscores ongoing interest from established agricultural families in shaping the future of the region’s wine industry.