Celebrate the 10th Anniversary during Vintage Lake Chelan, June 7-10
by guest contributor, Judy Phelps – Hard Row to Hoe
In 10 years the Lake Chelan Valley has grown from 15 wineries in 2006 to over 30 wineries today. On May 30, 2019 the Lake Chelan AVA (American Vinicultural Area) commemorated its 10th year anniversary. We take wine and vineyards in the Lake Chelan Valley for granted now, but it was not that long ago when the main emphasis in the Lake Chelan Valley was commercially-grown apples. How did the transition to grapes happen and how did Lake Chelan become one of the fastest-growing wine regions in the State?
You have to go back to 1998 when a couple of local orchardists (Steve Kludt and Bob Christopher) got together and decided to plant wine grapes in place of apples in their orchards. Lake Chelan was a successful fruit growing area for a century prior to wine grapes being planted but in the 1990’s the apple market collapsed and local farmers quickly followed Kludt and Christopher’s lead, and began to plant wine grapes.
By 2006 the vineyards had grown to 140 acres and number of wineries to 15 and the Lake Chelan Wine Grape Growers Association had been formed. Early pioneers of the fledgling vineyards and wineries include Paul Benson (Benson Vineyards), Larry Lehmbecker (Vin du Lac), Ray Sandidge (C R Sandidge Wines), Bob Jankelson (Tsillan Cellars) , Lynn and Henry Muneke (Chelan Ridge), Katy and Milum Perry (Tildio), Denny Evans (Tunnel Hill), Dean and Heather Neff ( Nefarious Cellars), Don and Judy Phelps (Hard Row to Hoe), Mary and Bob Broderick (Chelan Estate) among others. They recognized that the letters ‘AVA’ really DO matter.
One of the functions of the federal TTB (Tax and Trade Bureau) designated viticulture areas is to allow vintners to better describe the origins of their wines and allow consumers to better identify wines they purchase. Beyond drawing the boundary lines, the designation helps consumers shop with confidence regarding the source of the grapes used in the wine they are buying. Geographical designation goes hand-in-hand with the idea of terroir and that where the grapes are grown has a huge impact on the finished wines. The Lake Chelan Wine Growers Association, with the help of Washington geologist Dr. Alan Busacca, filed the Lake Chelan AVA petition in December 2006.
What makes the Lake Chelan Valley unique enough to receive its own AVA? One cannot make a visit to Lake Chelan without thinking of terroir. High desert climate, volcanic pumice soils, glacial deposits, the giant heat sink of the lake referred to as the ‘lake effect’ which acts to moderate temperatures, all make the Valley creates a unique growing environment for wine grapes and the wine produced from them.
10 years ago on May 30, 2009 the TTB granted official recognition of the Lake Chelan AVA regulating the use of the word “Chelan” on wine labels. Wines must be made from grapes (85% minimum) grown in the Lake Chelan AVA boundaries in order to use Lake Chelan on the label to assure the consumer that the wine they are purchasing was grown in the valley.
Though Lake Chelan was the 11th AVA in Washington State, what had been a recreational mecca for years, now showcases wineries and vineyards as the second jewel in Lake Chelan crown (the first being the Lake itself). The mountains, the crystal-clear turquoise waters of Lake Chelan, rolling hills of apple orchards and vineyards provide a gorgeous backdrop as visitors travel around the Valley.
Today about 300 acres are planted at elevations ranging from 1150 to 2000 feet.
The main white grapes are Riesling, Pinot Gris, Gewürztraminer, Viognier and Chardonnay; and red grapes: Cabernet Franc, Pinot Noir, Malbec, Merlot and Syrah.
Celebrate the 10th Anniversary
There are special events planned to celebrate the anniversary at wineries throughout the Lake Chelan Wine Valley June 8 – 10, 2019. Planned events include an opening reception, master classes, a grand tasting and numerous other happenings at individual wineries.
Join us as Lake Chelan celebrates the 10 year anniversary of its official designation as an American Viticulture Area (AVA). Acquaint your taste buds with the wines made from Washington’s most exciting AVA with educational and social events throughout the weekend. Vintage Lake Chelan will be held June 7th & 8th, 2019. The event features a welcome reception plus two tasting seminars and a grand tasting at Larc Hill Vineyard Ranch on the South Shore.
The inaugural Vintage Lake Chelan weekend will kick off with a welcome reception on Friday, June 7 from 6-8 p.m. at the Lake Chelan Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Center in downtown Chelan, located at 216 East Woodin Avenue. Welcome reception attendees will have the opportunity to sample delicious bites as well as taste a selection of Lake Chelan AVA wines, including bubbles, produced by the wineries throughout the Lake Chelan region. Welcome reception wineries include Tunnel Hill Winery, WineGirl Wines, Hard Row to Hoe, Rocky Pond Winery, Karma Vineyards Tsillan Cellars, C.R. Sandidge Wines, and Nefarious Cellars.
Throughout the weekend, the various Lake Chelan Valley Wineries will be hosting special activities at their wineries and tasting rooms. It’s a great weekend to celebrate the Lake Chelan AVA’s 10th Anniversary with award-winning wines.
Tickets and weekend passes are available at vintagelakechelan.com
Lake Chelan Now would like to congratulate the Lake Chelan area wineries for their decade of AVA status and to thank Judy Phelps for contributing this article. Photo credits include the Lake Chelan Wine Valley and Lake Chelan Now.
