Crimson acquires Seven Hills Winery

Washington’s Seven Hills Winery has been acquired by the Napa-based Crimson Wine Group after 28 years in business, with its winemaker and founder Casey McClellan describing its sale as the “logical next step”.

Casey McClellan and his wife, Vicky, who founded the winery in 1988

Seven Hills was founded by husband and wife team Casey and Vicky McClellan in 1988, when it was only the fifth winery to be established in the Walla Walla Valley. Over its 28-year history the winery has built up a reputation for both its Merlot and Bordeaux-style red blends, with Crimson describing it as a “benchmark Washington winery” that has helped shape the Walla Walla Valley wine industry.

“Joining the Crimson portfolio is an exciting and logical next step,” said Casey McClellan of the move. “It was critical to our family to transition Seven Hills Winery into the right hands, and Crimson’s commitment to producing quality wines from the best-of-class vineyards and wine estates is well aligned with our philosophy. We are confident Crimson will preserve the integrity of what my family has built over the years, while providing the resources to take our wines to the next level.”

Several family members will remain involved in winery operations, including winemaker Casey, a fourth-generation farmer who planted the Seven Hills Vineyard with his father, Jim, in 1982.

As well as the Seven Hills Vineyard, the winery also sources fruit from several Washington vineyards including the McClellan Estate Vineyard in the Walla Walla Valley and Ciel du Cheval and Klipsun on Red Mountain.

“The acquisition of Seven Hills Winery is complementary to the Crimson mission and portfolio, adding a high-quality growing region that excels in the production of Merlot and Bordeaux-style red blends”, said Crimson president and CEO Patrick DeLong. “We see significant opportunities for growth and we’re honored that Casey and Vicky have entrusted us to care for this historic Washington wine estate moving forward.”

Based in the Napa Valley, Crimson Wine Group owns and manages over 895 acres of vineyard land across five distinct regions with brands including Pine Ridge Vineyards (Napa, California), Seghesio Family Vineyards (Healdsburg, California), Archery Summit (Dayton, Oregon), Chamisal Vineyards (San Luis Obispo, California), and Double Canyon (Prosser, Washington).

The acquisition remains subject to federal and state regulatory approvals.

Seven Hills Winery and tasting room are located in downtown Walla Walla in the Whitehouse Crawford building, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.