Chateau Ste. Michelle Winery - Washington Wine Country's best
Image: Chateau Ste Michelle
Chateau Ste. Michelle is an award-winning winery based 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. Considering the numerous awards the winery has since accumulated, it's fair to say they successfully put the state of Washington on the list of places recognized for premium wine.
With a beautiful building nestled in a wooded parcel of land, it's a winemaker with humble beginnings that has achieved immeasurable 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 open to all.
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. 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 now iconic French-style chateau in Woodinville. The building inspired the rebranding to Chateau Ste Michelle to reflect the style and inspiration and put the winery on the map.
Image: Chateau Ste Michelle
Woodinville, a suburb of the Seattle area, is widely known for its collection of wineries and vineyards, many of which offer wine-tasting events to visitors. The town has a high concentration of high-net-worth individuals due to its proximity to Redmond, the location of Microsoft's headquarters, and offices of other technology companies such as Amazon, Google, Apple, and Meta. This has helped the local economy in many ways and undoubtedly 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 the chateau.
Image: Chateau Ste Michelle
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 languid afternoons sipping wine under the sun. Before exploring the stunning grounds, take in the unique architecture of the main building, which marries traditional with contemporary design. The building's interior hosts tastefully furnished event rooms and carefully curated wine displays that showcase the winery's prowess.
There are a host of winery experiences to immerse yourself in, as well as a concert field with regular events and spaces for rent should you wish to put on your own event.
Image: Chateau Ste Michelle
Exuding the utmost quality from years of hard work and innovation, Chateau St Michelle is one of just a few premium wineries worldwide, with two top-notch wineries, one for white and one for red. Its grounds are designed to produce unrivaled wine in taste and production quality.
Wine tasting
Chateau Ste. Michelle offers a long list of carefully curated wine-tasting experiences. After all, what will a winery be without wine-tasting? Popular options include Twilight Hours, where you can enjoy wine by the glass on Friday and Saturday evenings, and Feature Flight Tasting, which offers an assortment of 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.
Image: Chateau Ste Michelle
If you'd rather have a meal to go with your wine, you can opt for 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.
Enthusiasts can embark on the Grand Estate Tour, a guided tour of the enchanting 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 handpicked 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
With such a large facility in Woodinville, Chateau Ste Michelle has more than enough room to host concerts and has been doing just that since 1984. Artists set to perform here in 2024 include Sarah Mclachlan, Jordan Davi, and Tate Mcrae.
The amphitheater hosts the concert 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 an exemplary 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.
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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 a myriad of 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 amphitheater can host up to 4,500 attendees per event, including reserved and lawn seating.
