Discover Woodinville’s Wine Country
Did you know there are more than 1,000 wineries in Washington State?
In the City of Woodinville, a part of the Seattle Metropolitan area, also known as Woodinville Wine Country, you’ll find tasting rooms for 125 Washington State wineries. If you’re a wine enthusiast and want to explore wineries near Seattle, you’re probably wondering which wineries are worth a visit. If, like us, you’re on the hunt for the perfect starting point, Chateau Ste. Michelle Winery is likely to tick all the boxes. Wondering why? Keep reading to find out!
Why Chateau Ste. Michelle
We didn’t think much about crossing the southern border to explore wineries until we heard rave reviews about Chateau Ste. Michelle’s winemaking practices from a Canadian winemaker. That piqued our interest, prompting us to seek out more information.
As we researched the subject more, we discovered that Chateau Ste. Michelle holds the distinction of being the oldest winery in Washington state and is widely recognized as the founding winery of the region. Their website showed beautiful grounds, different wine tasting options, and tours. We decided to give it a shot.
Chateau Ste. Michelle
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What to expect if you are visiting Chateau Ste. Michelle
For those planning a tour, arrive early. Even if you’re not going on a tour, early arrival on weekends is a wise decision because the Chateau’s grounds are popular for picnics. Basically, visitors are allowed to bring their own food and enjoy it with a bottle of wine purchased at the winery.
Chateau Ste. Michelle offers various wine tasting options. Some of these require reservations. Others are on a first come, first serve basis. Whether you are into a wine tour or wine tasting, we advise you to check their website for up-to-date information.
While the estate’s architecture and grounds exude grandeur, most structures are off-limits to visitors. Notably, the Chateau building itself is closed to the public, currently awaiting a buyer. The carriage house, while not for sale, is not accessible to visitors, even those who go on a tour. The trout ponds are derelict, and unless you are explicitly told what these are, you would never guess their original purpose. The wine tasting lounge, however, stands as a vibrant hub, housing a wine shop, restaurant, and several tasting rooms, including a tasting room of the upscale Col Solare, a premium Washington State winery associated with Chateau Ste Michelle.
Things to do at Chateau Ste Michelle
Did you know that one of the top questions about Chateau Ste Michelle on Google is about Chateau Ste Michelle concerts? That’s right – Chateau Ste Michelle hosts a bunch of summer concerts with artists like John Legend, Gipsy Kings, Sheryl Crow, and more. Last year, they had 31 concerts, and this year, they’ve got 41 lined up. Just remember, these concerts aren’t free; you’ve got to buy tickets on the Chateau website.
If concerts aren’t your thing, Chateau offers typical winery activities: various tastings, guided tours, food pairings, and, the most intriguing of them all, an opportunity to blend your own wine.
Grand Estate Tour
Determined to learn as much as possible about this renowned winery and eager to form our own impressions of this historic place, we opted for a tour and wine tasting package.
Despite the “grand” in its name, the tour didn’t strike us as that impressive. Currently priced at $45 per person, it’s supposed to include a guided walk through the estate. However, in reality, the tour only covers the main floor of the historic manor. Despite this obvious limitation, participants get insights into the property’s first owners and its transformation from a farm to a winery. An added perk is the chance to see three beautiful Dave Chihuly vases, viewable only by those who take the tour.
In addition to the engaging story and a visit to the historic manor, the tour also involves a guided wine tasting of Chateau’s five limited-release wines and a lesson on proper wine tasting techniques which everybody seems to be enjoying.
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9 curios facts about the Chateau Ste. Michelle
Our tour guide was not skint on details about the curios and murky past of the Chateau. Here are some of the most fascinating facts about Chateau Ste. Michelle that we learnt on a tour.
Dairy Days
Once upon a dairy dream in the early 1900s, timber baron Frederick Stimpson decided to become a “gentlemen farmer.” Not that much into hard diary work, he hired cattle herders and managed his dairy kingdom with a gentle wave of his hand. His cows? Well, they didn’t just get milked. No, they got the full spa treatment – a pre-milking bath, because, why not, especially if money was not an issue.
Hollywood before Hollywood
Before Hollywood hit the scene, Chateau Ste. Michelle had its Hollywood moment. The estate was initially named Hollywood Dairy Farms. But it wasn’t some Tinseltown tribute. It was so named after the holly trees that Nelly Stimpson planted on the property to mask the fragrant scent of cow manure.
Trout ponds
The Stimpsons knew how to throw a party. They were all about trout dinner soirées. To entertain in style, they built a trout pond. When we saw it, it didn’t exactly scream idyllic water feature at us. The pond was more like four open, three-feet-deep fish reservoirs where they kept the fish before it was eaten. These reservoirs were spring and stream fed from above. Three of these reservoirs were designated for trout. The bottom one was meant for children to play on a hot summer day. Suddenly, tracing your food back to its source takes on a whole new meaning.
Eccentric Aviaries
What’s a fine estate without a couple of peacocks strutting around? One of the previous owners of Chateau Ste. Michelle started aviaries where they raised peacocks. The last two remaining peacocks were relocated to a peacock sanctuary in 2022.
Haunted house
Haunted manor tales? Check! Staff have reportedly felt some shoulder tapping and even the playful tug of hair.
From speakeasy to berry table winery
Back in the good old Prohibition days, the manor had a speakeasy downstairs. Just an hour after Prohibition wrapped up in 1933, the speakeasy flung open its doors as a winery. But this wasn’t your regular winery. They made apple wine, boysenberry wine, red currant wine and even some sweet Sauterns-style sips.
Rise of Cabernet Sauvignon
Fast-forward to 1967, when a savvy bunch of eight folks led by the wine guru Andrew Tchelistcheff realized that eastern Washington was perfect for growing Cabernet Sauvignon grapes. This led to a full-on Cabernet craze, earning Chateau Ste. Michelle the title of Washington’s founding winery.
The Riesling Triumph
In 1974, the Los Angeles Times sponsored a blind taste fest of Johannesburg Riesling. Chateau Ste Michelle entered that competition and bet everybody else. This wine put them on the wine map in the country. They often refer to themselves as “The house that Riesling built.”
The Winery’s Name French twist
The ’70s brought a French fancy. Right around 1974, the daughter of one of the winery executives went to France and became so enamoured with Saint Michel that she decided that the winery at home needed a French makeover. Probably not realizing that Saint Michel was a male archangel, or perhaps just wanting to give the winery a feminine touch, they renamed the place to Chateau Ste Michelle and built a Chateau replica on the grounds.
Conclusion
Putting jokes and sarcasm aside, even though Chateau Ste. Michelle isn’t right in the middle of vineyards, and they don’t make the wine on-site, going there is definitely worth your time and money. Our guide let us in on a little secret: opening the Chateau so far away from the vineyards was a marketing ploy to attract all those people who visit or live in the Seattle metropolitan area.
The Chateau is very American, both in terms of ambitions and the sheer magnitude of everything they are trying to do. They seem to want to get everything covered.
We saw every possible varietal wine made and sold at the Chateau. Let’s just say Grenache Blanc, anyone?
If you want food, they’ve got it; if you want wine with your meal, no problem; and if you’re not into either, how about a concert? If you don’t like their wine, that’s a shame, but don’t worry. They own lots of wineries around the world and partner with even more. Just visit the Enoteca or Col Solare wine tasting room, and you’ll find something you like.
The bottom line? Chateau Ste Michelle is a grand enterprise that will undoubtedly offer something for everyone.
