|
|
|
Chateau Ste Michelle |
|
541-752-7418 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Chateau Ste Michelle makes some the Pacific Northwest's most popular wines. Chateau Ste. Michelle's winemakers produce an array of highly rated, well priced red and white wines that have garnered scores of national and international awards. Chateau Ste. Michelle's vineyards are located in Washington state's Columbia Valley, a region separated from Seattle's rainy, marine climate by the Cascade Mountains. The mountains act as a rain shield limiting annual rainfall in the Columbia Valley to 6 - 8 inches and allowing our vineyard managers to control vine vigor through irrigation. During the summer, daytime temperatures hover in the mid-80s under sunny skies; cool nighttime temperatures in the fall protect the grapes' natural acidity and provide perfect conditions for ripening. Canoe Ridge Estate Vineyard Our vineyard is planted on the south face
of the ridge that rises 950 feet above sea level. The steep slope
and the vineyard's proximity to the river alleviate frost pockets
and seasonal temperature extremes. Because winters are milder than
other parts of the valley, spring bud break is earlier. In the summer,
the river moderates temperatures again, giving us an extended growing
season and adding more character to the grapes. Cold Creek Vineyard Horse Heaven
Indian Wells Vineyard At one time, the Columbia River flowed
over what is now Indian Wells. A sizeable sandbar nearby is a reminder
of the vineyard's origins; and the soil composition, a mix of river
gravel and sand, reflects the river's ancient course. The soil here
is sandier than the surrounding properties. Nutrient poor but well-aerated,
the sandy cobble encourages vines to work hard to find water. These
difficult conditions help to keep vegetative growth in check, encouraging
the vine to put energy into its grapes first. The differences in
flavor and varietal exuberance are marked, and you can taste them
in the wines from Indian Wells. Reserve Vineyards If CSM's Single Vineyard wines are best described as representing "Old World" winemaking dedicated to terroir, then the Reserves are best expressed as "New World" winemaking dedicated to the grape. Produced in extremely limited quantities representing
no more than 1% of a vintage, CSM's Reserve wines are crafted to represent
the best of a varietal. The most ideal sections of the best vineyards
are identified based on their quality history, then farmed within winemaker
specifications to insure the best fruit possible from each site. Chateau Ste Michelle's Partnerships: Col Solare A blended red wine with great structure
and character from the vineyards of the Columbia Valley, Col Solare
is styled for aging elegantly over time. Quantities are extremely
limited. Eroica Everything is coming up Riesling
"I'll take two of those," I said to the clerk, grinning from ear to ear, oblivious to my dyslexia. SHOP FOR WINE
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Cold
Creek is one of the oldest vineyards in the Columbia Valley, and since
we first planted here in 1973, it's developed quite a reputation for
rich, flavorful grapes. The weak soil at Cold Creek - a silty loam
- has a lot to do with the intensity of the fruit. Grape vines are
an obstinate lot. Those grown in meager soils, like Cold Creek, tend
to produce moderate crops and concentrated grapes. Cold Creek's soil
is also lighter and drains easier than most other Columbia Valley vineyards.
This is a real advantage for us, especially because Cold Creek is one
of the driest sites in the state. Since it rarely rains here, we use
irrigation to control water to the vine. We're stingy with it too because
less water seems to dial up the grapes' flavor. The vineyard is one
the warmest in the state, and this also makes a difference. Not only
does Cold Creek provide us with fully mature fruit, the warm temperatures
keep the berries small, adding intensity to the grapes at harvest. 
Before
there was a wine, there are an idea -- to form a partnership between
Tuscany's Marchesi Antinori and Washington State's
Chateau Ste. Michelle and together explore what the vineyards of
the Columbia Valley might yield. 
The
first time I saw Eroica, a new Riesling made by Chateau
Ste. Michelle, I thought the label read, "Erotica."
