A to Z Wineworks

A to Z Wineworks was founded in 2002 when two couples with a shared idea met at a wine tasting. Sam Tannahill and Cheryl Francis had just co-founded Francis Tannahill Wine Company, while Deb and Bill Hatcher were veterans of Eyrie Vineyards and Domaine Drouhin Oregon respectively. Both couples wanted to buy bulk Oregon wine and create an affordable, high-quality blend. Instead of competing, they partnered. The first A to Z vintage was bottled in August 2002 as a one-off project, but when the inaugural blend was recognized by Food and Wine magazine as the Best American Pinot Noir under $20, the partners turned it into a permanent business. Starting at just 2,500 cases, the company grew rapidly and is now based in Newberg, Oregon, at the REX HILL property in the Chehalem Mountains.

• Founded in 2002 by Deb Hatcher, Bill Hatcher, Sam Tannahill, and Cheryl Francis, all Oregon wine industry veterans with backgrounds at prestigious Willamette Valley producers
• The inaugural vintage started at 2,500 cases; by 2012 A to Z was Oregon's largest winery, with distribution in 50 states and international markets
• Acquired REX HILL Vineyards and Winery in 2007, providing an owned production facility and estate vineyards in the Chehalem Mountains AVA near Newberg
• Acquired by Ste. Michelle Wine Estates in September 2022, joining Erath and REX HILL to form SMWE's Oregon portfolio

A to Z fundamentally shifted perceptions of what Oregon wine could achieve at scale. Before their emergence, most quality Oregon producers operated at small volumes with premium price points. A to Z demonstrated that sourcing fruit rigorously from 50-plus vineyards across Western Oregon could produce consistent, critically recognized wines in the $15 to $25 tier, a segment that had been largely ceded to California and imported brands. Their two Wine Spectator Top 100 placements, for the 2008 vintage in 2010 and the 2011 vintage in 2013, validated the négociant model in the Pacific Northwest. Together with REX HILL and Erath, A to Z now represents approximately one in every four bottles of Oregon wine sold nationally.

• Proved large-scale Oregon Pinot Noir could achieve consistent critical recognition, with Wine Spectator Top 100 appearances in 2010 and 2013
• Established the $15-$25 price-to-quality benchmark for accessible Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
• A to Z Oregon Pinot Gris is a perennial Best Buy, and A to Z Oregon Chardonnay is recognized as America's best-selling Oregon Chardonnay
• Post-acquisition, SMWE's Oregon portfolio of A to Z, REX HILL, and Erath collectively accounts for roughly one in four bottles of Oregon wine sold

A to Z's competitive advantage lies in systematic vineyard sourcing and meticulous quality control across 50-plus vineyard partners throughout Western Oregon's valleys. Rather than relying on owned vineyards for volume, the winery cultivates long-term grower relationships that provide fruit consistency across difficult vintages and the ability to blend across microclimates and soil types. This négociant approach allows winemakers to capture the full diversity of Oregon's cool-climate growing regions in a single bottling. The production philosophy emphasizes balance, round flavors, and immediate approachability. The REX HILL sister brand, by contrast, draws exclusively on Willamette Valley estate vineyards farmed using biodynamic, organic, or LIVE-certified practices, with production limited to roughly three percent of total company output.

• Works with 50-plus vineyards across Oregon AVAs; sourcing spans Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, Riesling, and sparkling wine
• REX HILL estate vineyards in Chehalem Mountains are Demeter Certified Biodynamic, LIVE Certified, and Salmon Safe
• After acquiring REX HILL in 2007, A to Z cut its production by roughly 80 percent to refocus the brand on small-lot, highest-quality estate fruit
• Production campus expanded significantly in 2016 with a 46,000-square-foot addition to the Newberg winemaking facility

A to Z's portfolio is anchored by its Oregon Pinot Noir, sourced from 50-plus vineyard sites across the state and consistently priced around $19 to $22. The wine has twice earned Wine Spectator Top 100 recognition: the 2008 vintage made the 2010 list, and the 2011 vintage ranked number 55 on the 2013 list, described as the most available wine on that year's list. The A to Z Oregon Pinot Gris is a perennial Best Buy, and the Oregon Chardonnay carries the distinction of being America's best-selling Oregon Chardonnay. The REX HILL label, operating as the premium tier within the same ownership group, was named Robert Parker's Extraordinary 'Under the Radar' Winery for the Americas in 2017.

• A to Z Oregon Pinot Noir: bright red cherry, cranberry, fresh raspberry, gentle spice; sourced from 50-plus vineyards statewide; average retail price around $19
• A to Z Oregon Pinot Gris: perennial Best Buy recognition; stone fruit and apple character with food-relevant acidity and texture
• A to Z Oregon Chardonnay: America's best-selling Oregon Chardonnay; balanced citrus and stone fruit with restrained oak
• REX HILL Willamette Valley Pinot Noir: premium estate tier, named Robert Parker's Extraordinary Under the Radar Winery for the Americas in 2017

A to Z has been at the forefront of sustainable business practice in the Oregon wine industry for over a decade. In May 2014, A to Z became a Certified B Corporation, meeting rigorous standards of environmental, social, and economic performance. The company has subsequently achieved Best for the World B Corp status every year that designation has been awarded. In 2021, A to Z became the first Oregon winery to join International Wineries for Climate Action, a science-based initiative focused on decarbonizing the global wine sector. These commitments extend to vineyard sourcing: the REX HILL estate vineyards are Demeter Certified Biodynamic, LIVE Certified, and Salmon Safe, and A to Z supports both sustainable and conventional farming across its broader grower network.

• Certified B Corporation since May 2014; has achieved Best for the World B Corp status every year the designation has been awarded
• In 2021, became the first Oregon winery to join International Wineries for Climate Action (IWCA), pledging to decarbonize operations
• REX HILL estate vineyards are Demeter Certified Biodynamic, LIVE Certified, and Salmon Safe
• Sustainability commitments span environmental performance, social responsibility, and economic transparency as core business values

A to Z occupies a unique position in Oregon's producer hierarchy as the state's top-selling wine brand by volume. Since its founding, the company demonstrated that Oregon could compete on quality at scale, a model that was validated when Ste. Michelle Wine Estates, the largest winery in the Pacific Northwest, acquired A to Z and REX HILL on September 7, 2022. This was SMWE's first strategic acquisition under new owners Sycamore Partners, who had purchased SMWE for $1.2 billion from Altria in 2021. Combined with Erath, which SMWE had acquired in 2006, the Oregon portfolio produces roughly 700,000 cases annually and has made SMWE the dominant player in Oregon. Amy Prosenjak, who joined A to Z in 2007 and served as President and CEO, now leads all three Oregon brands as SMWE's President of Oregon Brands.

• Oregon's top-selling wine brand; by 2012 was already the state's largest winery with distribution in 50 states and international markets
• Acquired by Ste. Michelle Wine Estates (owned by Sycamore Partners) on September 7, 2022, for an undisclosed price
• Combined SMWE Oregon portfolio of A to Z, REX HILL, and Erath produces roughly 700,000 cases annually, making SMWE the largest producer in Oregon
• Amy Prosenjak, who oversaw A to Z's growth from 80,000 cases to 450,000, continues as President of Oregon Brands for SMWE