Chateau Ste Michelle Winery - Washington Wine Country's best
Image: Chateau Ste Michelle
Chateau Ste Michelle is an award-winning winery in Woodinville, Washington. The founding fathers of the winery had one main goal: to prove that Italy or California are not the only places where you can find great wine.
So, how successful has the winery been in achieving this goal? Considering the numerous awards it has since received, it's fair to say they succeeded in putting the state of Washington on the list of places recognized for premium wine.
With a beautiful building in a wooded parcel of land, it's a winemaker with humble beginnings that has achieved great success in the years of its existence. In addition to providing some of the best and most award-winning wines in the world, the Chateau Ste Michelle Winery is now a pillar of the community and hosts regular events, concerts, and wine tastings.
History and location
The winery's history dates back to the Repeal of Prohibition in 1912. Since then, key events in the winery's history include the introduction of premium vinifera wines called Ste Michelle Vintners in 1967 by legendary winemaker Andre Tchelistcheff.
Image: Chateau Ste Michelle
Five years later, the first vines were planted at Cold Creek Vineyard in Eastern Washington (Washington Wine Country). In 1976, Ste Michelle Vintners built the French-style chateau in Woodinville. The building inspired the name change to Chateau Ste Michelle to reflect the style. Its design put the winery on the map.
Woodinville, a suburb of Seattle, is widely known for its collection of wineries and vineyards. Many of these offer wine-tasting events to visitors. The town has a large number of high-net-worth individuals due to being close to Redmond, the location of Microsoft's headquarters, and offices of other technology companies such as Amazon, Google, Apple, and Meta.
The strong presence of technology companies has helped the local economy in many ways and contributed to the success of many wineries in the area. However, Chateau Ste Michelle stands out. It is recognized as the premiere winery in Woodinville, and most wine-tasting tours include it.
The grounds and building
The oldest winery in Washington State, the chateau is surrounded by 105 wooded acres of land, providing a beautiful landscape to spend afternoons sipping wine under the sun.
Image: Chateau Ste Michelle
Before exploring the vast winery grounds, take in the unique design of the main building, which marries traditional with contemporary styles. The building's interior hosts tastefully furnished event rooms and carefully arranged wine displays that showcase the winery's status.
There are a host of winery experiences to enjoy, as well as a concert field with regular events and spaces for rent should you wish to put on your own event.
Chateau St Michelle is one of just a few premium producers with two top-notch wineries, one for white and one for red. Its grounds produce unrivaled wine in taste and production quality.
Wine tasting
Chateau Ste Michelle offers a long list of wine-tasting experiences. With a variety of wines from grapes mostly from Columbia Valley, you'll likely find one that interests you.
Image: Chateau Ste Michelle
Popular options include Twilight Hours, where you can enjoy wine by the glass on Friday and Saturday evenings, and Feature Flight Tasting, which offers four distinct wines from the winery's limited release and reserve collections of red and white wines. The latter experience caters for up to ten guests.
If you'd rather have a meal to go with your wine, you can choose the Dim Sum & Sip, which offers a menu of three Dim Sum dishes to go along with a variety of wines. Other dining options include the Bruch Box Experience, which offers sparkling mimosas paired with brunch favorites such as seasonal fruits, Cajun-style gravy with cheesy biscuits, and beignets.
Visitors can go on the Grand Estate Tour, a guided tour of the estate that allows guests to appreciate the winery's rich history. Of course, the tour ends with a tasting session offering limited-release wines and small bites.
If you're a local, you should consider joining the wine club, where perks include a collection of red, white, and sparkling wines four times a year. These are available in six and twelve-bottle options and should be great additions to your wine cellar.
Concerts
Image: Chateau Ste Michelle
With such a large facility in Woodinville, Chateau Ste Michelle has more than enough room to host concerts and has been hosting its summer concert series since 1984. Artists set to perform here in 2024 include Sarah Mclachlan, Jordan Davi, and Tate Mcrae.
The theater hosts Chateau st Michelle concerts during the summer, with adequate security provided for concertgoers, so you're sure to enjoy the live music in a safe and welcoming environment.
You should keep the Pacific Northwest weather in mind and bring an umbrella with you as all concerts are hosted outdoors, and the show will go when it is raining.
Of course, you'll be able to purchase wine during the show, so you're in for a marvelous time. What could be better than premium wine and a live performance by your favorite artist?
Be sure to look out for concert calendar updates so you don't miss out.
Chateau Ste Michelle is a winery that puts its customers at the heart of everything it does. With a rich history and excellence right to its core, you can expect an unforgettable experience on your visit. Don't forget to leave some space in your luggage for the wine bottles to take home to enrich your collection.
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Frequently Asked Questions about Chateau Ste Michelle
Is Chateau Ste. Michelle a good wine?
Chateau Ste Michelle is recognized as one of the world's single largest producers of Riesling and is known for creating highly acclaimed wines of all varieties.
They've won many awards, including the US Wine Producer of the Year in 2013, the 2019 most awarded US winery, and the 2008 Wine Brand of the Year, among others.
How much did Chateau Ste. Michelle sell for?
Chateau Ste Michelle was sold for $1.2 billion in 2021.
Who is the new owner of Chateau Ste. Michelle?
Before its sale back in 2021, it was owned by Altria (formerly known as Phillip Morris). It was sold to private equity firm Sycamore Partners for the sum mentioned above.
How many people can Chateau Ste. Michelle hold for concerts?
Chateau Ste. Michelle's concert space can host up to 4,500 attendees per event, including reserved and lawn seating.
