Close up shot of a bartender pouring red wine into a glass. Hospitality, beverage and wine concept.

May is right around the corner! As we embrace the coming summer months and prepare for the return of warm weather to the Tri-Cities, one Woodinville-based winery is gearing up for an unforgettable series of concerts. Chateau Ste. Michelle – considered one of Washington’s oldest wineries (if not the oldest) – has been hosting a dazzling array of artists in their outdoor amphitheater for years. These spectacular musical events have been responsible for an increase in the winery’s popularity, bringing in larger crowds with each passing year. Today we’re shining a spotlight on one of Washington’s most unique wineries, concert venues, and gathering places. We’ll be highlighting a few of the attractions that make Ste. Michelle a desirable destination for Tri-Citians.

Information

Chateau Ste. Michelle is based in Woodinville, just northeast of Seattle. The grapes they use in are grown right in our back yard, using the fertile soil of the Yakima Valley to produce world-class wines. The grounds on which the venue sits are elegant yet cozy, nestled on all sides by the towering pines that give the Seattle area so much character. A sloped grass lawn behind the Chateau itself provide natural seating for those enjoying music in the amphitheater. The lawn forms a sort of bowl around the sound stage, ensuring that spectators have a view of the performance no matter where they’re seated. In front of the sprawling lawn and closer to the sound stage, there are numerous rows of chairs which can be reserved ahead of time if you want to be up close to the act. Wherever you find seating in the end, we recommend bringing a rain jacket and something dry to sit on, as Seattle’s summer weather is notoriously unpredictable.

Concerts

This summer’s lineup for musical events at the Chateau include numerous big-name acts. As the concert series has grown in popularity, more and more artists are drawn to perform there. Among them, James Taylor, Ringo Starr, Jason Mraz, and Sheryl Crow will be making appearances this summer. Whether you’re a fan of live music or excellent wine (or both), the Ste. Michelle concert series is well worth visiting. For more information on any of the acts performing at the Chateau this summer, you can view the event calendar on their website here.

History

While tens of thousands of guests visit Chateau Ste. Michelle each year, few know the depths of the venue’s historical significance. The site on which the winery stands today was originally the 1912 estate of Pacific Northwest lumber tycoon Frederick Stimson. It was converted into a winery in the 1960s under the leadership of legendary winemaker Andre Tchelistcheff, who established the name “Ste. Michelle Vintners.” In 1972, ground was broken in Eastern Washington’s Cold Creek Vineyard, where the majority of grapes for the vintners would be grown over the years. Later that decade, the Vintners built a French style Chateau on the estate in Woodinville, changing its name once again to the now well-known Chateau Ste. Michelle. As of 2019, they’ve been celebrating more than 50 years of expert winemaking and are considered one of the premiere wineries of the Pacific Northwest.

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