Kelsey Itämeri, John Abbott, and Enrique Ibarra by Tom Albro

Kelsey Itämeri, owner and winemaker at Itä Wines, has acquired Devona. She will continue the two Walla Walla-located brands as sister wineries. Devona founders John and Molly Abbott will stay on at the winery, as will existing staff.

“I’ve worked very closely with John and Molly for a long time,” says Itämeri. “It’s been an incredible working relationship, and I’m really excited to continue it.”

The sale includes all winery equipment as well as inventory. It also includes the brand and intellectual property. Financial details of the transaction were not disclosed.

John Abbott, who is marking his 38^th harvest this year, will continue at Devona as winemaker, as will Enrique Ibarra. Itämeri will lead direction of the Itä wines, while Abbott will lead direction of the Devona wines. Over a gradual period, Abbott will transition to a founding/consulting winemaker role.

“It’s a great opportunity for everybody, and I think it’s the right time,” Abbott says.

Going forward, the Devona and Itä wines will both be made at the same facility. Tastings will continue at separate facilities through the end of the year.

The Abbotts founded Devona in 2012. John studied viticulture and enology at Fresno State University. After graduating, he worked at Pine Ridge Vineyards and Acacia Winery in Napa Valley

The couple moved to Walla Walla in 1994, with John serving as winemaker and general manager at Canoe Ridge Vineyard, a newly formed winery from the Chalone Wine Group. Canoe Ridge was the seventh winery in Walla Walla; there are now over 100.

Abbott quickly developed a reputation for making exceptional Merlot. He subsequently had a 13 year tenure as winemaker at Abeja, which he and Molly co-founded with the Harrison family. In 2015, Abbott started focusing on Devona full-time. Now, the sale of Devona marks the beginning of a generational handoff.

“It’s like a succession plan for us because the transition will be gradual,” Molly Abbott says. “We will stay involved for as long as it takes to make a seamless handoff, getting the winery into the hands of the next generation, and allowing us to step aside.”

Itä Wines was founded in 2019. Itä has made a name for itself offering fresh, vibrant, lower alcohol wines. The Devona wines, meanwhile, are more broad-shouldered yet still very sophisticated.

The fruit sources between the two wineries differ as well, with Devona focusing on grapes from the Columbia Valley, Columbia Gorge, and Willamette Valley. Itä Wines sources mostly higher elevation, Walla Walla Valley fruit. Overall, the style of both wineries is quite distinct, and it will remain that way.

“The Devona Wines are not going to turn into Itä Wines or vice versa,” says Itämeri. “They’ll continue as distinct brands and distinct styles, continuing to express this multifaceted view of what Pacific Northwest wine can be.”

Over the years, Itä has, at times, crushed grapes at Devona. At others, the wines have been made in full at the Devona facility following the birth of Itämeri’s two children in 2022 and 2025. When Itämeri created a list of equipment she needed for her winery, it matched the equipment that Devona already had. This eventually led to a discussion about purchasing the winery.

“I can’t think of anybody more suited to carry on and build on what we’ve started,” Molly says. “I also love the idea that Kelsey, as a young winemaker, could get the start under our roof. There’s been a long tradition for that in Walla Walla.”

Itä Wines produces approximately 1,200 cases of wine annually. Devona makes approximately 2,000.

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