Chardonnay Grand Estates
⏳ Drinking Window
2021 - 2025
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
roasted chicken, grilled salmon, creamy pasta dishes
✨ Technical Specifications
The Columbia Crest Grand Estates Chardonnay is a classic expression of Washington State's Columbia Valley, a region shaped by the cataclysmic prehistoric Missoula floods. Benefiting from the rain shadow effect of the Cascade Mountains, the vineyards enjoy long, sun-drenched days balanced by cool desert nights, which helps the grapes develop intense fruit flavors while retaining vital natural acidity. To craft this elegant white wine, winemakers employ a combination of barrel fermentation in French and American oak—imparting rich notes of vanilla, butter, and toasted coconut—and stainless steel tank fermentation to preserve the bright, fresh characters of green apple and pear. This harmonious blend of traditional and modern techniques showcases the winery's long-standing commitment to delivering exceptional quality and approachable luxury.
🍾 About the Producer
Established in 1982 by Ste. Michelle Wine Estates, Columbia Crest was the pioneer winery founded within what is now the acclaimed Horse Heaven Hills AVA of eastern Washington. Situated along the benchlands above the Columbia River, the estate takes full advantage of a semi-arid, rain-shadowed microclimate marked by intense summer sunshine, constant river breezes that deter frost and pests, and fast-draining, wind-blown Warden silt loam soils. Initial plantings in 1978 and early winemaking under founding cellar master Doug Gore established the winery's benchmark status for reliable varietal purity and commercial scale. The production regimen bridges large-scale precision with small-lot barrel fermentation and French and American oak aging. Columbia Crest cemented its reputation when its 2005 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon won Wine Spectator's Wine of the Year. Today, the estate produces tiered selections ranging from the everyday Two Vines and Grand Estates labels to vineyard-driven Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay expressions.
🍇 Grapes
Chardonnay
🍷 ABV
13.5%