Columbia Crest Winery is one of the wine industry's most amazing success stories.  Planting its large estate vineyards in 1978 to the major Bordeaux varietals and opening its doors to the public in 1983, Columbia Crest made headline after headline as consumer enthusiasm propelled its premium wines onto bestseller lists throughout America.  As its grapes matured in the several microclimates of its unique location, it would become clear that the terroir of the Horse Heaven Hills, where the winery's grapes grew, was distinct from that of the massive Columbia Valley appellation that surrounds it.  The area's unique growing conditions and geology produced consistent grape quality and flavors demonstrated through this winery's estate wines would help create the case for Horse Heaven Hills to win federally authorized status as Washington's 7th American Viticultural Area in 2005.         With its wine program expertly directed by winemaker Ray Einberger, wine quality has kept pace with the winery's growth.  The authors of Northwest Wines have written, "Columbia Crest goes from strength to strength, and seems to get better as it gets bigger."  Fans of the wines rave about the consistent quality they have learned to trust year after year.        Surrounded by 2,500 acres of prime vineyards, the winemakers of Columbia Crest is literally a step away from the vines. Ray and his team are actively involved in caring for and making decisions about the vineyards.  Their goals are to:  make wines that are true to varietal type;  reflect the intensity of Horse Heaven Hills and Columbia Valley fruit;  make sure their wines are perfect complements to foods.         Recent acclaim from leading wine publications confirm that Columbia Crest continues to soar.   The winery was the first non-Californian producer in the American wine categories to be voted "Best Winery for Value" in a Wine Spectator Reader's Choice Awards poll.  Columbia Crest has earned the "Winery of the Year" designation from Wine & Spirits and has received numerous medals and high-ranking scores for all its wine tiers...  Two Vines, Grand Estate, Reserve and Horse Heaven Hills (H3).         This picture-perfect estate winery, with its sprawling lawn and duck-filled pond, creates an inviting setting for an alfresco picnic and quality relaxation.  Be sure to plan plenty of time for a visit to this one-of-a-kind Washington winery.

 
 Featured Columbia Crest Wines

Creating Wines That Surpass Expectations        Columbia Crest prides itself in its ability to deliver handcrafted, superior-quality, small-lot wines, as well as affordable everyday wines.  The winemaking team makes it their mission to deliver wines that surpass expectations year after year.  Columbia Crest Wine Tiers Two Vines Wines      Grand Estate Wines      Reserve Wines      Horse Heaven Hills

 
Two Vines Wines

The wonderful winemaking conditions in Washington’s Columbia Valley provide the fresh, full flavors of our Two Vines wines.  Our entire Two Vines portfolio has established Columbia Crest as one of America’s most popular and fast-growing wineries.  Critics have repeatedly praised these wines for their value and high quality.

2005 Two Vines Shiraz
Columbia Valley  

“The Two Vines Shiraz features New World-style ripe, jammy fruitiness blended from varieties traditional in the Rhone Valley. Black cherry and white pepper aromatics also are pronounced on the palate along with hints of strawberry. The finish is supple and lingering.”
- Ray Einberger, Winemaker

The final blend includes Viognier and Grenache to enhance the mouthfeel and fruit aromatics.

2006 Cabernet Sauvignon Two Vines
Columbia Valley

"This fruit-forward, minimally oaked Two Vines Cabernet Sauvignon offers light blueberry and cherry aromas and flavors throughout. The balance of fruit and soft oak provides a lingering finish with hints of cocoa." - Ray Einberger, Winemaker

This lightly oaked wine aged 12-14 months.

Locating and Buying Columbia Crest Wines

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Grand Estate Wines
 

Columbia Crest’s Grand Estates wines are crafted from a collection of remarkable Columbia Valley vineyard sites, which are selected specifically for their ability to produce wines with intense fruit character and complexity not found in most “everyday” wines.  Columbia Crest Grand Estates are distinguished by their ripe varietal intensity.  Lush and vibrant, the wines offer a pleasing balance of sugar, pH and tannin—a synergy that is grown in the vineyards and preserved in the cellar.

2007 Grand Estate Chardonnay
Columbia Valley

Premium vineyards throughout the Columbia Valley are sources for Columbia Crest’s Grand Estates program.  Whole berry Chardonnay was pressed, and the juice was held at 50 degrees in stainless steel tanks for two days. The settled juice was placed into a combination of new and one-year-old American (60%) and French (40) oak.  In barrel nine months.

“This is a complex wine with lingering aromas and flavors of cantaloupe, green apple and caramelized sugar. Hints of nutmeg and clove play out on the lush, refined finish.” - Ray Einberger, Winemaker

2006 Grand Estate Merlot
Columbia Valley

Grand Estates Merlot is harvested from vineyards located predominantly on the Horse Heaven Hills (texture and body) and the Wahluke Slope (aromatics and complexity.)  The grapes were crushed with 20% whole berries remaining.  Wine aged 14-16 months. The oak regime featured 25% new and 75% older French and American barrels. Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon contributed softness and further fruit dimension to the final blend.  Alcohol: 13.5%

“This complex artisan wine is produced using various barrel types and varietals to offer classic Merlot spice, blackberry, and cocoa aromatics which persist on the palate. The balance of wood and black fruits creates a velvety, seductive finish.”- Ray Einberger, Winemaker

Locating and Buying Columbia Crest Wines

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Reserve Wines
 

To give our Columbia Crest Reserve wines the hands-on, special care you would expect from a boutique winery, we’ve established separate areas where we use artisan techniques for fermentation and barrel aging. This select group of super-premium Washington wines can be consumed now, but we suggest that you hold onto your favorites and allow them to develop in the bottle. They will reward your patience with rich flavors, velvety textures, and long finishes—and prove just how extraordinary Columbia Valley wines can be.

2005 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon
95 pts — Wine Spectator

2005 Reserve Zinfandel
Stone Tree Vineyard on Wahluke Slope
Blend........75% Zinfandel, 25% Primitivo

“This inaugural vintage of Reserve Zinfandel from Stone Tree Vineyard imparts aromatics of violet, raspberry and spice leading to a palate of intense blackberry, vanilla, and plum, and finishes with lingering fruit and dark chocolate flavors.” ~Ray Einberger, Winemaker

2005 Walter Clore Private Reserve
 92 pts — Wine Spectator

Walter Clore is known as the “Father of the Washington’s Wine Industry.”  In honor of his viticultural research and contribution to our success, we’ve named this special wine after him.  Our Reserve Red is produced from vineyards among the oldest in the state; vineyards located on the Wahluke Slope offer aromatics, texture and complexity; Cold Creek sites contribute flavor and fruitiness; and Horse Heaven Hills fruit introduces balance and body.  Small lot, artisan-style winemaking has produced a refined, yet powerful, wine that will reach maturity well into the next decade. 

“A classic Bordeaux-style winemaking protocol enhances the aromatics of earth, coconut, blackberry and slight mint in this red blend.  Fruit and oak are perfectly balanced to yield a very complex chocolate-cherry-blackberry profile with a lingering finish.  This is a very seductive, hedonistic experience in the glass.” - Ray Einberger, Winemaker

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Horse Heaven Hills (H3)

 

Washington state’s famed Horse Heaven Hills have been home to the Columbia Crest Winery for over two decades.  Strong wind patterns, which are unique to the Horse Heaven Hills, reduce canopy size and density, create better sun exposure, and contribute to even ripening by moderating temperature extremes.  Our winemaker blends innovation and tradition to capture the flavors of this unique basalt and bedrock terroir creating wines that highlight the intensity of these grapes.

2005 H3 Cabernet Sauvignon
90 points — Wine Spectator

“This intense, fruit-forward Cabernet Sauvignon delivers aromas of cherry blossom, and rose petals, with a perfect balance of earth, mineral, deep berry flavors, and a soft, smooth cocoa finish.”   — Ray Einberger, Winemaker

Locating and Buying Columbia Crest Wines

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Copyright © 1997 - 2009  Susan R. O'Hara. All rights reserved. Last revised: 04/15/2009