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Chateau Ste. Michelle Gewürztraminer
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medium-bodied
Taste: mild & fruity, smooth
Goes With: seafoods & chicken dishes |
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Chateau Ste. Michelle
Founded in 1934, Chateau Ste. Michelle pioneered vinifera grape growing in Washington state and has been producing classic European varietal wines under the Chateau Ste. Michelle label since 1967. The winery combines an ongoing dedication to research with a commitment to classic winemaking traditions. The winery owns 3,500 acres of vineyards in the Columbia Valley of eastern Washington, including Canoe Ridge Estate and Cold Creek.
Located 15 miles outside of Seattle, Chateau Ste. Michelle is set on 87 scenic acres and is one of the Seattle-area’s top visitor attractions. The winery offers daily tours and tastings, culinary events and a popular summer concert series. Chateau Ste. Michelle enjoys winemaking partnerships with two of the world’s most distinguished vintners. Col Solare is an alliance with Tuscany’s Piero Antinori and Eroica Riesling is a partnership with the Mosel’s Ernst Loosen.
Columbia Valley
Chateau Ste. Michelle’s grapes are grown 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 only 6-8 inches. Eastern Washington’s warm, sunny days and cool evenings create ideal conditions for ripening grapes to develop intense aromas and flavors.
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 Northerly latitude also gives the Columbia Valley roughly two more hours of sunlight daily during the peak-growing season than California, increasing the region’s ability to ripen fruit.
Selected cool sites in the Columbia Valley yield bright, aromatic Gewürztraminer fruit. Most of the fruit is from the cooler Yakima Valley, where the hang time allows the spiciness of the variety to fully develop.
Winemaking
Fermentation took place in stainless steel tanks for three weeks. Cool temperatures were maintained throughout the winemaking process to preserve the wine’s fresh, fruity and spicy aromas.
Tasting Notes
More Gewürztraminer is consumed during the Thanksgiving holiday than any other time during the year. The popular Chateau Ste. Michelle Gewürztraminer is an ideal wine to serve at your holiday dinner table. This bright, refreshing, medium-dry wine delivers inviting aromas of lychee nuts, nectarine, jasmine and clove spice. It is nicely balanced between fruit and the grape’s natural crisp character, while still being lush. It will pair nicely with turkey and stuffing.
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