Columbia Crest Names Juan Muñoz Oca Head Winemaker

Columbia Crest, recognized as the
leading producer of acclaimed, high-quality wines from Washington state,
today announced that Juan Muñoz Oca will assume responsibility for
producing the winery’s portfolio of Reserve, H3, Grand Estates and Two
Vines wines as Head Winemaker.

Muñoz Oca joined Columbia Crest in 2003, and most recently was dedicated to
the winery’s red wine program where he was tutored by Ray Einberger whose
2005 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon became the first Washington wine to be
named ‘Wine of the Year’ by Wine Spectator in 2009.

As Director Emeritus of Winemaking, Einberger will assume an advisory role
for the boutique wineries within the portfolio of Columbia Crest’s parent
company, Ste. Michelle Wine Estates (SMWE).

"Juan’s experience making red and white wines in New World and Old World
wine regions has been a stylistic asset to Columbia Crest," said Doug Gore,
SMWE executive vice president of winemaking and vineyards. "He is immersed
in the traditions that preceded him," said Gore.  "He approaches winemaking
with a respect for the past and an ability to look at it through his own
creative lens.  It is his particular skill that has led to wines receiving
great reviews.  People still are surprised that we do what we do at
Columbia Crest, and it's winemakers like Juan who keep that element of
surprise alive."

Muñoz Oca, 35, has experience that spans 19 vintages in five world-class
wine regions, including Bordeaux, France; South Australia; Mendoza,
Argentina; Spain; and Washington state. He began interning with the
viticulture team at Ste. Michelle Wine Estates in 2001; two years later he
was hired as a full-time member of the Columbia Crest winemaking team. In
2005 he was named red winemaker.

Raised in Mendoza, Argentina, Muñoz Oca came under the tutelage of his
grandfather, cellar master at Bodegas Toso winery, at a young age. The
older man instilled in him a love and respect for wine, as well as for his
family’s Spanish culture, that was to become the root of a lifelong passion
for winemaking. Muñoz Oca picked his first grapes at the age of eight,
later took an after-school job in a wine cellar, and spent his vacations
helping his grandfather with harvest.

"I’ve been involved with grapes since I was a little boy – my grandfather
was in the industry and his father was in the industry – it’s all I’ve
known," says Muñoz Oca. "Winemaking has been in my family, it’s in my
blood, it’s what I do, and it’s who I am."

During his college years, Muñoz Oca gained more wine industry experience
during stints at various wineries in Argentina. After graduating with
honors from Argentina’s National University of Cuyo with dual degrees in
agricultural engineering and winemaking, he studied viticulture in Ribera
del Duero, Spain and joined the winemaking team at Terrazas de los Andes,
an Argentine premium winery owned by Chandon.

Though Muñoz Oca planned to further his experience with an internship at a
California winery, in 2001 a meeting with the legendary Dr. Robert Wample,
then a top viticulturalist at Washington State University, convinced him to
head further north to Washington.

"Washington state is a very special place to grow grapes for many reasons,"
says Muñoz Oca. "An excellent climate combined with ideal soils and
passionate, knowledgeable people equates to the ability to craft
high-quality wines. The last nine years in Washington have been the most
meaningful to me, I fell in love with the wine and the people, and that’s
why I’ve been here since."

"I am looking forward to my new role as head winemaker," he continues.
"Columbia Crest is synonymous with quality and consistency, and my goal is
to create wines that beat consumer expectations year in and year out."

Muñoz Oca joins a small, elite group of winemakers to hold the title of
Head Winemaker at Columbia Crest; in the winery’s 28 year history only
three people have been in the position. Ray Einberger was Head Winemaker
from 2003 to 2011; under his leadership the winery produced the first
Washington wine to be named Wine Spectator’s No. 1 Wine in the World.  In
1984 Doug Gore became Columbia Crest’s first official Head Winemaker. Under
Gore's direction, Columbia Crest grew from a small winery in a relatively
unknown wine region to one of the most significant wineries in the U.S. and
a major force behind Washington state’s emergence as a world class wine
region.  Gore is currently the executive vice president of winemaking and
vineyards for Ste. Michelle Wine Estates.

Founded in 1983, Columbia Crest is one of the leading producers of premium
wine in Washington state.  The winery is best known for its award winning
Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Chardonnay.  More information about the
winery can be found at columbia-crest.com.