doing business as
employer : Columbia Label founded : 1997 location : Benton City employees : 45 website : www . columbialabel . com
Columbia Label
In the heart of Washington ’ s wine country there is only one wine label producer . The all-digital shop at Columbia Label is attuned to the needs and potential of its 400-plus wine-making neighbors , helping them put a properly fine face on their vintages .
Brian Mittge
growing in benton city : The bustling business known today as Columbia Label was founded by Steve Hall and Leslie Ritter in Seattle in 1997 . The husband-and-wife pair moved the firm to Benton City in 2008 , where business has grown along with the region ’ s fine wines . The company ’ s original building there was finished in 2009 , expanded in 2014 , again in 2020 , and just completed another expansion in 2023 .
from the ground up : As the only label-maker in the region , Columbia Label can ’ t find workers who already know how to do the job , so they train on site — hiring young people who are eager to learn , and the more local the better . One of those workers was Katii Deaton , who started in 2010 as an entry level worker . “ I applied online because it was five minutes from my house ,” said Deaton , who rose through the ranks and is now both general manager and a partner in the company .
women leadership : The company ’ s all-female management team , a first in the wine and spirit printing industry , employs state-of-the-art systems for customers to upload layered digital artwork , get custom label quotes , approve proofs and track jobs .
high-tech : Columbia Label is a fully digital operation . Labels are printed on a set of modern $ 7 million printing machines that minimize the need for expensive tooling . When special tooling is required , the company provides it free of charge to its customers . To ensure no downtime , the company has extras of all its machines — backups of backups .
finding a way : Deaton likes to figure out ways to break new ground and make things work , even if it means going beyond what their machines were designed to do . “ We do it anyway ,” she said . “ We do what we want . We ’ ll figure it out .”
labels that pop : Columbia Label specializes in multiple , complex embellishments that include embossing , debossing , hot stamp foil , custom color foils , high build , spot gloss , faux foiling , variable data , QR codes , over-printed hot stamp foil and more ( including , at one customer ’ s request , making labels that can be written on underwater ). “ When I see a label that I love ,” Deaton said . “ I will go ask to put an embellishment on it so we can show people what we can do .”
“ Columbia Label is the only pure wine and spirit specialty label printer north of Napa , Calif . It is also a lower-cost producer with newer software and equipment . Columbia Label , being local and closer to the Pacific Northwest ’ s wineries and distilleries , helps them meet their sustainability goals and reduce their carbon footprint .”
— Co-founder Steve Hall