Chateau Ste. Michelle
The origins of Ste. Michelle Wine Estates' flagship winery, Chateau Ste. Michelle, date back more than 70 years to the opening of two predecessor companies in the post-Prohibition era. That makes it the oldest winery in Washington state, and one that today has some of the most mature vineyards in the Columbia Valley.
The winery combines Old World winemaking tradition with New World innovation and is best known for its award-winning Riesling, Chardonnay, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. Its portfolio includes Columbia Valley wines styled to bring out the varietal character of the region; Single Vineyard wines that epitomize the terroir of the winery's best vineyards; Ethos wines, the winery’s pinnacle tier that melds Old World complexity and elegance with concentrated Washington fruit; and the Artist Series, a Bordeaux-style blend styled for power and longevity.
Chateau Ste. Michelle receives some of the highest accolades in the industry today, including “2005 Winery of the Year” by Restaurant Wine magazine and “American Winery of the Year 2004” by Wine Enthusiast magazine.
Chateau Ste. Michelle is one of the few premium wineries in the world with two state-of-the-art facilities, one devoted exclusively to white wines and the other to reds. This dedicated approach allows winemaker Bob Bertheau to build winemaking programs to the unique specifications of red and white wines. While all of Chateau Ste. Michelle's vineyards are located on the east side of the Cascade Mountains where the climate is dry and sunny, Bertheau makes the award-winning white wines in Woodinville, 15 miles northeast of Seattle. The winery's expansive, 87-acre estate (pictured below) hosts more than 250,000 visitors annually for tours, tastings, dinners and outdoor summer concerts.
Chateau Ste. Michelle's red wines, meanwhile, are made at Canoe Ridge Estate on the east side of the state. Situated on a steep slope overlooking the Columbia River, the facility is in close proximity to Chateau Ste. Michelle's best vineyards, including Cold Creek, Horse Heaven and its own, Canoe Ridge Estate.
