Ted Baseler retirement | Ste. Michelle Wine Estates Ted Baseler, president and CEO of Ste. Michelle Wine Estates, ended his storied and acclaimed career with the company on October 1. The announcement capped a 34-year run with the company, including 17 years as president and CEO, during which his vision and leadership for Ste. Michelle, and the industry in general, fueled the evolution of the Washington wine industry and led to historic company and personal achievements. Baseler is well-known for his approach to building Ste. Michelle into a premium wine powerhouse, driven by a “String of Pearls” philosophy. He orchestrated Ste. Michelle’s surprise acquisition of the renowned Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars with the Ant...