Reserve Grenache
⏳ Drinking Window
Typically best enjoyed 3–8 years from vintage release.
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
roasted duck, grilled lamb chops, rosemary-infused pork loin
✨ Technical Specifications
Crafted in limited quantities, the Columbia Crest Reserve Grenache showcases the remarkable adaptability of Rhône varieties in the rugged terrain of Washington's Columbia Valley. Sourced from premier vineyard sites where well-drained, sandy-loam soils left behind by the prehistoric Missoula Floods force the vines to struggle, this wine benefits from the region's intense summer sun and cool desert nights. This dramatic diurnal shift coaxes out vibrant red fruit character, elegant floral aromas, and a signature white pepper spice. The winemaking team employs small-lot fermentation and gentle oak aging to preserve the grape's natural brightness and silky texture, resulting in a sophisticated expression of Washington terroir.
🍾 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
Grenache