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Theodor P. Baseler is president and CEO of Ste. Michelle Wine Estates, the largest and most acclaimed wine company in the Pacific Northwest. It produces and markets more than 10 premium brands, including Chateau Ste. Michelle, Columbia Crest, Northstar, Spring Valley and Col Solare in Washington state. In California, its wineries include Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars, Conn Creek and Villa Mt. Eden, and in Oregon, it owns Erath Winery. Ste. Michelle Wine Estates also is the exclusive North American distributor of wines crafted by the Antinori family of Tuscany.
Mr. Baseler began his career at Ste. Michelle in 1984 as director of marketing and was offered ever-increasing levels of responsibility, eventually becoming chief operating officer before being named president and CEO in 2001. Prior to working at the winery, he had a successful career as a creative marketer of consumer packaged goods at ad agencies J. Walter Thompson, Chiat Day and Cole & Weber (Ogilvy & Mather). He was named one of the top marketing professionals in the country by Advertising Age.
Mr. Baseler has served as the chairman of the Washington Wine Commission, chairman of the Napa-based Wine Market Council, and director of the Washington Wine Institute. He also was appointed by the Governor to the Board of Regents of Washington State University, and has served on the boards of Children’s Hospital and Patrons of Northwest Arts.
Born in Oregon and raised in Washington, Mr. Baseler graduated with a BA from Washington State University and an MS from Northwestern University. | 