The Wine Knows

Precept Brands, the Seattle company that started in 2003 as a value-minded negociant, has purchased half of Apex Cellars and half of Willow Crest, both wineries in the Vintner's Village in Prosser, Wash.

Precept recently announced a quarter-million-case production facility near Walla Walla. In 2006, it purchased Waterbrook, one of Walla Walla's oldest and largest wineries.

A few years ago, it purchased Washington Hills from Harry Alhadeff, who now has sold half of his premium Apex brand to Precept.

Willow Crest is owned by Dave Minick and is well known for its high-quality Syrah and other wines. Minick was the first winery to open in the Vintner's Village, a cluster of wineries along Interstate 82 in the Yakima Valley town of Prosser, about three hours east of Seattle.

Precept is headed by Andrew Browne, who was CEO of Corus Brands until it sold the majority of its wineries to Constellation in 2001. Those wineries included Columbia, Covey Run, Ste. Chapelle and the since-discontinued Paul Thomas brand.

Precept also distributes wines for the Magnificent Wine Co. of Walla Walla, which bottles the now-ubiquitous House Wine line.

Precept also bottles wines from California and Europe. Last year, it made nearly 600,000 cases, making it the third-largest wine producer in Washington.