Ste. Michelle Winery., Seattle

I was in Seattle this summer. Local friends suggested to have a short trip to Woodinville a small township nestled in the lap of greenery not for away from hustle bustle of down-town area. The area is now popularly known as home of Ste. Michelle Winery.

Like a Disneyish pentagon, the sprawling mansion at Chateau Ste Michelle serves as an imposing architectural reminder that this is Washington’s largest and most powerful winery. In summertime the chateau’s perfectly pruned lawns are dotted with visitors who come for wine testing as well as to attend concerts. Even when there aren’t concerts on the schedule, enjoy an open air repast at the enchanted castle. Apart from enjoying wine session, we also loved the quality of food served in the restaurant area.

This winery has tried to shatter myth that great wine can only come from France, Italy or California at least that was the misconception the Chateau’s founding fathers set out to prove wrong when they first broke ground years ago and pioneered the Washington wine region.

 Built on the 1912 estate owned by Seattle lumber baron Frederick Stimson, the winery’s roots date back to the Repeal of Prohibition. In 1967 under legendary winemaker Andre Tchelistcheff, a new line of premium vinifera wines was introduced called Ste. Michelle Vintners.

They planted first vines at Cold Creek Vineyard in Eastern Washington in 1972. Four years later, Ste. Michelle Vintners built a French style winery Chateau in Woodinville, and changed its name to Chateau Ste. Michelle. The winery continued to record good business so the owners planted Canoe Ridge Estate Vineyard.

This year, Chateau Ste. Michelle has completed  52 year. Two years back winery on its golden jubilee year  invested  $7 million dollar to create a new visiting center by  doubling in size and including an 80-seat modern theater with tasting tables plus an interactive blending room where guests can create their custom bottle from the winery's estate vineyards. There's a Col Solare Bottega featuring Chateau Ste. Michelle's partnership with Tuscany's Marchesi Antinori, a private club room and an enoteca representing the global brands in their portfolio including Champagne Nicolas Feuillatte, Tormaresca and Tenet, a partnership with Rhône Valley winemakers Michel Gassier and Philippe Cambie.

The winery has combined Old World winemaking traditions with New World innovation. In 1994, Ste Michelle Wine Estates-owned Northstar Winery set out to show that the world’s best merlot—a black grape traditional to France’s Bordeaux region—could be grown and blended in Washington state. Consider that point proven: In a blind tasting at the Food Network’s 2009 South Beach Wine and Food Festival, Northstar’s 2005 Walla Walla Merlot defeated five wines from France’s famed Right Bank region, securing their  place in the merlot-making hall of fame.

 In fact, Chateau Ste. Michelle is now one of the few premium wineries in the world with two state-of-the-art wineries, one for red and one for white. The whites are made at the Chateau in Woodinville, WA, while the reds are made at their Canoe Ridge Estate winery in Eastern Washington.

For many, knowing the history and background of the wine inside the glass isn't of the utmost importance. But, here I come to know a little bit more about the love and care with which the winery create magic in a wine bottle. The winery interweaves with its rich heritage to create a wine experience.

14111 NE 145th St, Woodinville; 425-415-3300