Although it was first planted with wine grapes in the 1800's, Lake Chelan has only more recently been recognized as a commercial winemaking hub. This, combined with a relatively low planted acreage means every Chelan vineyard has a critical role to play in bringing distinctive wines to the global market. 

While it has historically been known primarily for producing apples, pears and stone-fruit, Chelan's natural climate and soil is uniquely suited to viticulture. As a consequence of the glaciers that formed Lake Chelan, the surrounding soil is made up of coarse sandy sediment with notable amounts of quartz and mica. These elements imbue Chelan grapes with a distinctive texture, unique mineral content, and high nutrient profile. Our close proximity to the lake gives the region a milder climate than surrounding areas, and provides an extended growing season compared to the Columbia Valley at large.