Copyright 2013 – Wine Press Northwest
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You won’t see the name “Precept” on any labels, yet Precept Wine in Seattle is one of the Northwest’s largest and most influential wine producers.
Precept’s roots go back to the 1990s, when the Baty family — under the name Corus Brands — bought such wineries as Columbia and Covey Run in Washington and Ste. Chapelle and Sawtooth in Idaho. It also acquired or planted vineyards in both states before selling most of its wineries to Constellation, an international wine giant.
In 2003, the Batys and Andrew Browne (who had been the CEO of Corus) launched Precept and started creating one brand after another. Along the way, the company purchased established wineries such as Washington Hills, Waterbrook, Sagelands and Canoe Ridge Vineyard, giving it an interesting mix of labels. It also has purchased and planted vineyards throughout the Northwest, making it one of the largest vineyard owners in Washington, Oregon and Idaho.
Precept also ventures beyond the Northwest, using grapes from Germany and Australia. In fact, Precept now produces about 1 million cases of wine under more than 30 labels.
So when you are drinking a wine from Apex, Blue Pirate, Bridgman, House, Pine & Post or Chocolate Shop, you’re tasting a wine from Precept.
Precept’s wines tend to be widely available, so ask for them at your favorite wine shop or grocery.