A brand-new California wine company has acquired one of Washington's oldest wineries, along with two other Northwest winemakers.

The new company, Ascentia Wine Estates of Sonoma, opened for business with a splash this summer, announcing a $209 million deal to buy a million-caseper- year portfolio of wineries that includes Columbia Winery in Woodinville and Covey Run in Zillah, plus Idaho's Ste. Chapelle winery and five California producers. Ascentia was established by two California investment funds and wine marketer W.J. Deutsch and Sons

Columbia was Washington's first commercial winery, founded in 1962 as Associated Vintners. It is closing its Woodinville winery and moving operations to eastern Washington.

All three northwest properties had previously been owned by Constellation Brands, which bought them in 2001. Constellation is holding on to its flagship Washington label, Hogue Cellars of Prosser.