Avennia Acquires Gramercy Cellars

Avennia, a Woodinville, Wash., based winery, said it acquired Gramercy Cellars in Walla Walla. The acquisition includes the brand as well as all inventory, equipment, and intellectual property. Gramercy Cellars founder Greg Harrington, MS, will stay on at the winery as founding winemaker.

“Gramercy is one of the wineries that has defined modern Walla Walla,” says Marty Taucher, managing director at Avennia, told Sean P. Sullivan of Northwest Wine Report. “It’s an exciting move for us, and this is a good move for Washington wine.”

With the transaction, Avennia also acquired Gramercy’s shares in Octave Vineyard and purchased Forgotten Hills Vineyard, both of which are in Walla Walla Valley. JB George Vineyard was not included. Terms of the sale were not disclosed. Metis, a leading mergers and acquisitions advisory firm, was the advisor for the transaction.

Avennia will also purchase Gramercy Cellars’ downtown Walla Walla winery and tasting room, which was previously leased. The Gramercy wines will continue to be made and poured at this location. Gramercy will continue to operate as an independent brand. The two wineries will remain distinct in terms of their fruit sourcing and styles.

“Our acquisition of the Red Mountain vineyard a few years ago gave us a Red Mountain focus. Now this gives us a very strong, powerful Walla Walla focus,” Taucher says. “This also extends our reach dramatically in distribution, both nationally and internationally.”

Avennia partner and winemaker Chris Peterson will become director of winemaking, overseeing winemaking at Avennia, Gramercy, Lydian, and Liminal. – Sean P. Ferguson, Northwest Wine Report.