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Interview with allen shoup long shadows vintners
Allen Shoup (born Aug. 31, 1943) served as CEO of Washington State’s largest winery, Chateau Ste. Michelle and its affiliates (named Stimson Lane until 2004) from 1983 until his retirement in 2000. While Shoup was Stimson Lane’s CEO, the company’s annual revenues grew from $5 million to $175 million, representing approximately 70% of the Washington State wine industry's production.
Contents
- Interview with allen shoup long shadows vintners
- Rotary luncheon july 13th 2011 allen shoup
- Early career
- Washington State Wines
- Honors and awards
- References
After his retirement from Stimson Lane, Shoup returned to the Washington State wine industry in 2003 to launch Long Shadows Vintners, a company he established in Walla Walla, Wash. He currently serves as Long Shadows’ managing partner.
Rotary luncheon july 13th 2011 allen shoup
Early career
Shoup’s early career included product development for Amway, work as a financial analyst for Chrysler, brand development for E. & J. Gallo Winery, director of marketing for Max Factor and director of corporate communications for Boise Cascade. Along the way, he established life-long friendships with many California wine luminaries including Robert Mondavi, whom Shoup identifies as his mentor, and Ernest Gallo.
Washington State Wines
Shoup joined Chateau Ste. Michelle in Woodinville, Wash., in 1980 and in 1983, he was promoted to CEO. As CEO of the state's largest winery, he led the Washington wine industry through the formative years of its development. At the time of Shoup's retirement, the economic impact of the Washington State wine and wine grape industries was estimated to be $2.4 billion annually.
Shoup launched several successful brands for Stimson Lane, including Columbia Crest, which grew to become the leading producer of value Merlot in the country. Northwest Wine, Winegrowing Alchemy Along the Pacific Ring of Fire credited Shoup with the company's success, “The winery’s tremendous expansion, coming at a time when the American wine market (was) experiencing a flat growth period, require(d) consummate marketing acumen.” Shoup elevated Chateau Ste. Michelle’s image with the introduction of wines such as the Chateau Ste. Michelle Artist Series and brought international partnerships to Washington State with the launch of Col Solare in 1999, a collaboration with Tuscany’s Piero Antinori and the iintroduction of Eroica, a Riesling alliance with Germany’s Ernst Loosen.
During his tenure as CEO of Stimson Lane, Shoup did as much to raise regard for all of Washington wineries and growers as he did for Stimson Lane’s brands. In 1996, he famously sold a portion of the company's wine grapes to other Washington wineries after a winter freeze killed off a significant portion of the harvest to "make sure the Washington wine industry wasn't wiped out." In addition, he helped create the Washington Wine Institute, established the Auction of Washington Wines and led the effort to establish Washington State’s Columbia Valley AVA (American Viticulture Appellation). Shoup also founded the American Wine Alliance for Research and Education (AWARE).
Honors and awards
Robert M. Parker Jr’s The Wine Advocate “Wine Personalities of the Year,” 1990
Sunset magazine Western Wine Awards, “Lifetime Achievement Award” 2011
Auction of Washington Wine Honoree Vintner 2013
Legends of Washington Wine Hall of Fame 2014