World renowned. Washington grown.

The Facts Behind the Flavor

Founded more than 25 years ago, Columbia Crest is one of Washington State’s premier wine producers. View a pictorial timeline of our history. (pdf)

1978–1981
Vineyards are planted, 500 acres per year, in Paterson, Washington along the Washington-Oregon border, the future home of the Columbia Crest winery.

1979
Seattle’s Howard S. Wright, Inc., drafts design plans for country French manor house winery. Ninety percent of the winemaking facility is housed underground to maintain year-round temperature and humidity control.

1981
Winery construction begins in the midst of the estate vineyards.

1982
California winemaker Doug Gore is named Columbia Crest head winemaker.
Winery partially opened for 1982 harvest.

1983
Winery and visitor center is officially dedicated and opened in June. The winery represents a $26 million investment in the future of Washington State winemaking.

1984
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms grants official appellation (AVA) status to Washington’s Columbia Valley.

1985
First release of Columbia Crest 1984 Vineyard Reserve White, a medium dry blend of Johannisberg Riesling, Gewürztraminer and Muscat Canelli.

1986
First release of Columbia Crest Vineyard Reserve Blush, a Grenache-based blend.

1987
First release of white varietal wines from the 1986 vintage: Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, Johannisberg Riesling, Gewürztraminer and Chenin Blanc.

1988
1988 First release of red varietal wines from the 1984 vintage: Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.

1990
Release of Semillon Chardonnay. Columbia Crest is the first U.S. winery to produce this blend.

California Wine Experience names 1987 Merlot to list of “Top 10” wines in the world under $8.

Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate names Columbia Crest as one of the 24 "Best Value Wineries" in the world.

Impact magazine names Columbia Crest as one of the "Top Five U.S. Wineries" and to the "Nation’s 20 Hot Brands" list.

1991
First release of Barrel Select line: 1987 Barrel Select Merlot; 1989 Barrel Select Chardonnay.

Impact Magazine awards "Hot Brand" honors to Columbia Crest for second consecutive year.

1992
Walter Clore, Ph.D., Washington State University researcher and the father of the Washington wine industry begins irrigation experiments at Columbia Crest.

Impact Magazine awards "Hot Brand" honors to Columbia Crest for third consecutive year.

1993
Ray Einberger, Maître de Chai for Napa Valley’s Opus One, joins Columbia Crest to assist Doug Gore with winemaking, specializing in red varietals and Reserve wine production.

1994
1990 Columbia Crest Cabernet Sauvignon is only U.S. wine to be awarded a gold medal at Challenge du Vin, in Bordeaux, France.

Impact Magazine awards "Hot Brand" honors to Columbia Crest for fifth consecutive year

1996
First release of Estate Series line: 1995 Estate Chardonnay, 1993 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, 1993 Estate Merlot with all grapes sourced exclusively from the vineyards surrounding the winery.

1997
Wine Spectator first annual readers’ poll votes Columbia Crest “Best Winery For Value In the United States,” the only non-California winery to win an American wine category.

1994 Columbia Crest Merlot is the only U.S. Merlot to win a gold medal at the Challenge International du Vin, in Bordeaux, France. It also received one of 50 Prizes of Excellence, and only four were awarded to American wines.

Estate Vineyards are planted with 52 acres of Merlot.

Wine Spectator ranks the 1995 Estates Series Chardonnay #59 on its “Top 100” list.

Wine Spectator ranks the 1994 Cabernet Sauvignon #74 on its “Top 100” list.

1998
1998 Estate Vineyards situated around the winery are expanded with 31 acres of Syrah.

1999
1999 Estate Vineyards are expanded adding 134 acres of Cabernet Sauvignon and 58 acres of Syrah.

ColumbiaCrest.com is launched.

Wine Spectator ranks the 1997 Estates Series Chardonnay #40 on its “Top 100” list.

2000
Wine Spectator ranks the 1996 Estates Series Cabernet Sauvignon #37 on its “Top 100” list. Wine Spectator ranks the 1998 Estate Series Chardonnay #79 on its “Top 100” list. Wine Spectator ranks the 1997 Estates Series Merlot #83 on its “Top 100” list. Columbia Crest is the only American winery to have three wines named to the “Top 100” list.

2001
Grand Estates Chardonnay, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon introduced.

Reserve Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon introduced.

Food & Wine awards the 1998 Grand Estates Cabernet Sauvignon with its “American Wine Awards” for the best Cabernet Sauvignon under $15.

Wine Spectator ranks the 1999 Grand Estates Chardonnay #40 on its “Top 100” list.

2002
1999 Walter Clore Private Reserve, Bordeaux-style red wine is introduced. The wine honors Washington wine pioneer, Walter Clore, Ph.D.

Food & Wine awards the 2000 Grand Estates Chardonnay with its “American Wine Awards” for the best Chardonnay under $20.

Wine Spectator ranks the 2000 Grand Estates Chardonnay #16 on its “Top 100” list.

Wine Spectator ranks the 1999 Reserve Syrah #31 on its “Top 100” list.

2003
1999 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon ranked #1 by wine experts (wine retailers, sommeliers, wine media) in blind tastings of Cabernet Sauvignon-based wines that occurred in New York City and Chicago. Columbia Crest beat wines from Bordeaux, California and Washington, all of which cost as much as four times the price of Columbia Crest.

Grand Estates Syrah introduced to markets nationally with 2001 vintage.

“Two Vines” introduction. The tier replaces the winery’s Columbia Valley series.

Ray Einberger is promoted to manage all winemaking and cellar operations. He succeeds Doug Gore who was promoted to oversee winemaking and vineyards for Columbia Crest and its sister wineries in Washington: Chateau Ste. Michelle, Northstar, Snoqualmie and Domaine Ste. Michelle.

Wine Spectator ranks the 2001 Reserve Syrah #60 on its “Top 100” list.

2004
Wine Spectator ranks the 2001 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon #30 and the 2001 Grand Estates Merlot #50 on its “Top 100” list

2005
Wine Spectator ranks the 2002 Walter Clore Private Reserve #33 on its “Top 100” list.

Wine Spectator names Columbia Crest to its “Top 20 Value-Oriented Wineries” list.  

Wine Enthusiast ranks the 2002 Grand Estates Chardonnay #28 on its “Top 100 Best Buys of 2005” list.

2006
Wine Enthusiast ranks the 2002 Grand Estate Shiraz #1 on its “Top 100 Best Buys of 2006” list.

Sunset names the 2002 Grand Estates Cabernet Sauvignon “Red Wine Steal of the Year” in its Western Wine Awards.

2007
Wine Spectator ranks the 2004 Grand Estates Merlot #71 on its “Top 100” list.

2008
Columbia Crest debuts its Horse Heaven Hills ("H3") wines. Crafted from fruit grown in the Horse Heaven Hills AVA, the Chardonnay, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon capture the terroir of the growing region and reflect the winery’s rich heritage of winemaking and viticulture in the AVA.

Columbia Crest Winery celebrates its 25th Anniversary of being open to the public. In 1983 the winery opened its doors in the heart of Washington state and the 2008 harvest marks the winery’s 25th vintage.

Wine Spectator rates the 2005 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 95 points, the highest score the winery has received to date.

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