Why it matters
The producer
Chateau Ste Michelle works from Woodinville, Washington, with Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Chardonnay and Riesling at the centre of the range. The winery also identifies Cold Creek, Horse Heaven and Canoe Ridge Estate as estate vineyards.
Katie Nelson is Vice President of Winemaking, Joel Wright is Red Winemaker, and Taylor Butterfield is White Winemaker. The stated approach is to express Washington vineyard character while respecting grape variety and the individuality of each location. The house combines broad regional wines with named estate vineyard bottlings and the Eroica Riesling partnership.
Place and vineyards
Where the wines begin
Columbia Valley appears on the labels of the producer's Cabernet Sauvignon and Riesling wines. The designation covers the broad regional side of the range, while Cold Creek, Horse Heaven and Canoe Ridge Estate give the portfolio named estate vineyard addresses.
A regional Columbia Valley label gathers fruit under one wider geographic name. An estate vineyard name narrows the address to a specific property. Chateau Ste Michelle uses both forms across its Washington wines, with Woodinville as the home of the winery.
In the cellar
Vineyards and cellar
Cold Creek is a warm to very warm estate vineyard without a cooling effect from the Columbia River. Its vines have low vigor, small berries and thick skins, with moderate bud break and a relatively early harvest. The old vines grow in weak loamy sand and gravel soils with low water holding capacity. Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Merlot and Riesling are listed among the varieties planted there. Sustainability is described as a priority across the vineyards.
The Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is aged for 24 months in new oak, neutral oak and stainless steel. Indian Wells Cabernet Sauvignon spends 18 months in mostly neutral oak, with smaller portions of American and French oak. Oak can add flavour and gradual oxygen exposure, while stainless steel contributes no oak flavour and keeps the vessel neutral.
Wines to know
The range in view
The Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is a broad red blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Malbec and other red varieties, presented in an accessible style. Indian Wells is a richer and fuller New World Cabernet, made from Cabernet Sauvignon with Syrah and Merlot. Cold Creek appears as a Cabernet Sauvignon bottling tied to the named estate vineyard, with the documented 2020 wine made entirely from Cabernet Sauvignon.
Eroica is the Riesling wine created through the partnership with Ernst Loosen. The documented 2024 bottling is entirely Riesling, aged for ten months in stainless steel, and suitable for drinking young or further ageing. The range therefore moves from broad Columbia Valley reds to a warmer Indian Wells tier, a named Cold Creek bottling and a partnership Riesling.
A useful way in
A bottle to begin with
Choose Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. It is the broad regional red, a Cabernet led blend with smaller portions of Syrah, Malbec and other red varieties. The bottle places the house's Columbia Valley focus before the warmer Indian Wells wine and the Cold Creek estate vineyard bottling, giving the range a clear regional starting point.