WALLA WALLA, Wash. — Avennia announced that it has acquired Gramercy Cellars, the Walla Walla winery founded twenty years ago by Master Sommelier Greg Harrington. Gramercy Cellars will continue to operate as an independent brand under its own name and label within the Avennia wine family. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
The acquisition brings together two Washington producers built on the same conviction: that the state’s vineyards can yield world-class wines of elegance and restraint. Gramercy Cellars adds a Walla Walla presence, a nationally recognized on-premise footprint, and one of the most loyal direct-to-consumer followings in the region to Avennia’s portfolio.
Founded by Harrington after a career as wine director at some of the country’s most prestigious restaurants, Gramercy Cellars has become a standard-bearer for Washington wine on top wine lists across the country and a favorite of journalists and sommeliers worldwide. The winery produces primarily red wines — Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Tempranillo — alongside select white varieties, sourced from its own vineyards and from carefully chosen vineyard partners throughout the Walla Walla Valley and Columbia Valley. A philosophy of minimal intervention in both vineyard and cellar has yielded wines known for their balance, their Old World sensibility, and their clear expression of site.
The transaction includes two of Gramercy Cellars’ vineyard holdings. Forgotten Hills Vineyard, an organically farmed, cool-climate site at the base of the Blue Mountains, anchors the estate; its distinctive microclimate yields the complex, savory Syrahs that have come to define Gramercy’s reputation for elegance. The acquisition also includes Gramercy’s interest in Octave Vineyard, a high-elevation site planted between 1,200 and 1,400 feet as part of the acclaimed SeVein project, which produces the concentrated, mineral-driven wines that sit at the top of the Gramercy portfolio.
Gramercy’s reputation has translated into unusual commercial strength. Direct-to-consumer sales have consistently exceeded 70% of company revenue, anchored by a wine club that has grown alongside the brand’s critical standing.
Harrington will transition from day-to-day leadership following the close of the transaction and will continue as Founding Winemaker, working closely with Chris Peterson, winemaker and partner at Avennia. “Gramercy Cellars is one of the wineries that compelled the rest of the country to take Washington seriously,” said Chris Peterson, co-founder and director of Winemaking at Avennia. “Greg created and developed this winery with his own unique voice. Our job is not to change or re-invent his vision, but rather to provide him and his team with the resources and support necessary to continue taking this project to new heights.”
“We have admired this winery and its people for a long time,” added Marty Taucher, co-founder of Avennia. “This is a stewardship decision as much as a business one.”
Gramercy Cellars’ wine club and Walla Walla tasting room will continue without interruption, and club members will see no change to their allocations or benefits.
The transaction was advised by Metis Mergers & Acquisitions, whose counsel helped ensure a process centered on shared values and ongoing alignment. Terms of the agreement are confidential.
