Oh When the Saintes Go Marching Out

It's been no secret that the parent company of Chateau Ste. Michelle is UST, powerhouse of smokeless tobacco (Copenhagen, Skoal). Three decades ago those tobacco profits, looking for a safe haven, provided desperately-needed investment capital for the young Washington's wine industry. Seriously, Washington wine wouldn't exist if not for the enlightened owners of UST. But times change, and those enlightened owners have long since coughed their last. This week UST was sold to Altria, owners of Marlboro among other cigarette brands, for $10.4 billion. Industry observers say it's only a matter of time until Altria puts the entire Ste. Michelle wine division on the block. Your crack Seattlest news team is on the case (five million cases a year, actually), will report back.