Chateau Ste. Michelle is one of the oldest and most respected wineries in Washington State, known for producing high-quality wines that reflect the unique terroir of the Pacific Northwest.
The winery was founded in 1934 by Dr. Walter Clore, a pioneering viticulturist who is credited with establishing the state’s wine industry. Today, the winery is one of the largest in the state, with more than 1,200 acres of vineyards in the Columbia Valley, Horse Heaven Hills, and Yakima Valley regions.
Chateau Ste. Michelle is famous for producing a wide variety of wines, including Riesling, Chardonnay, and Merlot. The winery is particularly well-known for its Riesling, which is grown in the cool climates of the Columbia Valley and Yakima Valley regions. The winery’s Riesling is considered to be one of the best examples of the varietal produced in the United States.
In addition to its flagship Riesling, Chateau Ste. Michelle is also known for its red wines, particularly its Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. The winery’s Merlot is grown in the Horse Heaven Hills region, which is known for its warm, dry climate and well-drained soils. The winery’s Cabernet Sauvignon is grown in the Columbia Valley, and is known for its rich, full-bodied flavors and firm tannins.
Chateau Ste. Michelle’s wine-making process is a combination of traditional and modern techniques. The winery uses both stainless steel tanks and oak barrels for fermentation and aging, depending on the varietal and the desired flavor profile. The winery also uses a variety of techniques to manage the grapes and the vineyards, including crop thinning, canopy management, and green harvesting, to ensure that the grapes are of the highest quality.
In conclusion, Chateau Ste. Michelle is one of the most respected and well-known wineries in Washington State, known for producing high-quality wines that reflect the unique terroir of the Pacific Northwest. With a long history and a commitment to innovation, the winery continues to produce some of the best wines in the region.
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Jeremy Yowell
in the last weekSte. Michelle was an amazing wine tasting experience with quite impressive grounds/atmosphere. The whole site is well appointed and beautifully presented. We did a VIP tasting package and had an outstanding experience with our guide Anders. Highly recommend the VIP tasting or just grabbing a glass during a visit. Will be back!
ejaniswa
a week agoJames Taylor concert was great. Lots of winery staff are doing what they can to have things run smoothly amongst the large audience. Food and beverages were available, but it was nice to be able to bring nibbles instead
Rick Hadsall
a week agoStunning wine estate property of the OG Washington winery - over 50 years old now. Grapes come from vineyards out east near the Columbia River but low rainfall areas. Wines here continue to be delicious despite their immense popularity. Many wines here are small batch and not sold elsewhere. It gets crowded however and on concert nights the tasting room can close an hour earlier than advertised. Plan accordingly ! We were lucky to be sat at the tasting bar and had James explain everything about the soils, terroir, climate, winemaking technique. His knowledge and passion made a great experience even better. We shipped a case home!
Deb B.
a week agoThis use to be a fantastic winery and concert venue. That was before CSM sold out to an investment group. They have monetized EVERYTHING to the point it’s no longer affordable. We love the wine and have been members for 13 years. Every year we celebrate our anniversary on Memorial Day weekend. No more. Ticket prices are high enough - but they also charge $50 for parking, including for ADA!! Today we arrived to pick up wine before the concert. We were unable to park near the tasting room, even though there were at least 20 open parking spaces. My husband drove to the back to park in ADA but he couldn’t walk to the tasting room to help me carry our wine to the car - 24 bottles of wine worth over $1000 and we can’t even park to pick it up!! No carts, no help, nothing. I he person helping us at the wine club desk was helpful and sympathetic, but that didn’t change the fact that my 72 year old disable husband has to walk a long distance from parking to help me carry 4 boxes of wine to our car. Parking should be free for wine club members and disabled persons. This club doesn’t care about its customers. One employee even said, “they monetize everything now”. It was a fun 13 years, but we are done!
Andrew Wagner
a month agoWe had a great time here and will definitely be back to try more wines. The vineyard is beautiful and the staff is very accommodating