Domaine Ste. Michelle
Domaine Ste. Michelle ranks in the top ten of all sparkling wine sold in America, and has earned more than 250 awards. Its popularity can be attributed not only to its contemporary style and approachable flavor, but also its value. It is a “must have” for every restaurateur and wine shop shelf, as well as every consumer celebration.
Domaine Ste. Michelle’s grapes come from Washington’s Columbia Valley, a region capable of producing ideally balanced fruit with crisp acidity. It is made in the true, traditional méthode champenoise style, during which the secondary fermentation happens in the bottle as it ages for nine to 18 months. Bottles are then riddled, disgorged, topped with a sweet liquid dosage and finished with a special cork – all hallmarks of a quality sparkling wine. In fact, Sante magazine named four Domaine Ste. Michelle varietals – Blanc de Blancs, Extra Dry, Cuvée Brut and Blanc de Noirs – as “Recommended Wines for 2005.”
Domaine Ste. Michelle also produces Luxe, a vintage-dated Blanc de Blanc made from grapes that have been hand-picked and carefully pressed to minimize juice contact with the skins. After the primary and secondary fermentations occur, Luxe is aged for five to six years for added complexity.
