Columbia Crest

Consistently high quality and remarkable value are hallmarks for the brand and its many varietal wines, including Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Syrah. These selections and others from the winery’s portfolio are regularly featured on lists of outstanding, notable, and best value wines from around the world by national wine publications. Columbia Crest is perhaps best known for it Merlot, which time and again has helped to cement Washington’s reputation for producing this varietal to world-class standards.

The winery property includes Washington state’s largest state-of-the-art production facility and estate vineyards totaling approximately 2,500 acres. The estate vineyards are planted to a broad range of grape varietals, with Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Riesling, and Syrah at the core. Beyond the estate vineyards, Columbia Crest also sources grapes from among the state’s premiere growing regions, including the Yakima Valley, Wahluke Slope, and the recently-recognized Horse Heaven Hills.

Head winemaker Ray Einberger, who joined Columbia Crest in 1993, provides the creativity and experience needed to craft wines of great character and acclaim. His ability to fuse Old and New World styles of winemaking is central to the Columbia Crest mission – wines that exceed expectations. Indeed, his efforts to perpetuate a “winery within the winery” continue to yield both small-lot, handcrafted wines, as well as widely available wines suitable for everyday enjoyment – a feat few wineries in the world today can successfully duplicate. His leadership and vision are reflected in the artisan winemaking techniques he applies and has passed along to his supporting team whom share his passion for excellence and innovation.