Best Lake Chelan Wineries for People Who Like Hidden Gems

No matter the season, one of my favorite weekend trips is exploring the best Lake Chelan wineries. The area’s beauty draws me in, but the quality of wine made by small, family-owned wineries is what keeps me coming back.

Lake Chelan isn’t just a tasting room destination. It’s an area of farmers taking their beautiful grapes and turning them into estate-grown wines that give sippers a true sense of the landscape. So if you’re looking for a wine destination in Washington, this lakeside area should be on your bucket list.

I’ve been to Lake Chelan more than 10 times and tried wines from just about all of the ~30 tasting rooms in the area. Each trip, I realized which ones I kept wanting to go back to. Those are the ones that made this list of the best wineries in Lake Chelan, WA.

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If you’re not familiar with Lake Chelan, it’s a wine region located about 3 hours and 45 minutes from Seattle. Unlike Seattle, the area gets about 300 days of sun a year so it’s a lovely place to visit during any season.

“Chelan” is derived from the Indigenous word “Tsillan”, which means “deep waters”. Lake Chelan is the 3rd deepest lake in the US, carved during the ice age glaciers.

Because of its origin and elevation, the sediment is volcanic and unlike the rest of the surrounding AVAs. Paired with the temperate “lake effect” weather, you often find grape varietals that don’t require excessive heat. Think more pinot, riesling, and syrah over cabernet.

Best Lake Chelan Wineries

Now that we got the background info out of the way, let’s dive into the fun topic: the best wineries in Lake Chelan! Here is my regularly-updated list of go-to tasting rooms.

If you’re overwhelmed by the thought of planning a wine tasting itinerary, let me plan a trip for you! I’ll create an itinerary catered to your exact interests so all you have to do is show up.

Ready to dive into planning on your own? Here are wineries not to miss.

Lagriōth Winery @ Chelan Valley Farms

website | Manson, WA (get directions) | tasting fee: ~$15 pp, waived with 2 bottle purchase | hours: Wed-Sun from 12 pm – 5 pm through October

I remember staying at Chelan Valley Farms when they first opened. It’s run by Chad and Jeana, a husband-wife duo who bought the property around 2018 and built a beautiful home and rental unit. I stayed in their adorable rental, which is still one of the most romantic Airbnbs in Washington I’ve stayed at to date. However, they had a vision to create more; a sort of third place where that you could visit year round to stay, taste, or enjoy an event.

It brings me so much joy to have seen them grow into what they are today. In addition to their beautiful vacation rental, you’ll now find a large u-pick apple orchard, pumpkin patch, and flower field. There’s also a full calendar of events, ranging from yoga to wellness retreats.

But the best part is that they’ve also created a tasting room overlooking Chelan Valley where they pour delicious, award-winning wines under the label Lagriōth. Chad manages their vines and Jeana is in charge of making the wines.

I’ve loved every wine she’s made so far, both reds and whites. They’re delicate, yet structured with layers of flavor that unfold as you sip. Some of the most memorable bottles I’ve tried to date are the pinot blanc and pinot noir. The blanc was subtle and crips with a zesty honey finish, while the noir was dry with hints of deep berries on the finish.

If you can only make it to a handful of wineries during your visit, make sure Chelan Valley Farms is on your list…especially if you have kids!

Hard Row to Hoe Vineyards

website | Manson, WA (get directions) | tasting fee: ~$15 pp, waived with a bottle purchase | hours: daily from 12 pm – 5 pm

I’m actually drinking the tempranillo wine from Hard Row to Hoe as I write this. And I keep getting distracted while writing it as my boyfriend and I pause to repeatedly say to each other, “This wine is so f*cking good.”

This should be reason enough for you to try Hard Row to Hoe, but if you need convincing to visit this Washington winery, let me lure you in with two very important reasons I recommend coming here on your Lake Chelan wine trip.

First, the ambiance.

The grounds are cute as a button with inviting floral arrangements, outdoor seating, and ladder toss for entertainment.

Besides the visual aesthetics, it has a welcoming vibe and approachable staff who love to retell the story of the Hard Row to Hoe name.

Back in the 1930s, the Chelan area was known for its mining. Entrepreneurial women decided to capitalize on all that testosterone by creating a brothel near the Coulee Dam where men were working. However, when that wrapped up, the women needed to find a new source of income.

They saw that copper miners were stationed in the lakeside town of Lucerne, so they purchased a boarded-up hotel in Point Lovely to service them. The only problem was that hotel was across the water and only accessible by boat.

There was a man who owned the only row boat in town. Equally entrepreneurial, he realized he could make a fortunate bringing the miners across the lake to the women. It was this “hard row to hoe” that inspired the name of this winery.

The second reason you should go to Hard Row to Hoe is, of course, the wines.

Owners Judy and Don Phelps take a lot of pride in being the first LIVE (Low Input Viticulture and Enology) and Salmon Safe-certified estate vineyard in North Central Washington. They use organic methods and do everything by hand, which really comes out in the complex range of wines.

Since Hard Row was the 9th winery in the valley, they do a lot to spread that knowledge to other wineries. In fact, Chelan Valley Farms produces their wine out of Hard Row’s facility!

Despite being one of the oldest Chelan wineries, though, they don’t plan to get much bigger than producing ~5,000 cases a year. They grow most of their own grapes, including grenache for rosé, tempranillo, pinot noir, and chardonnay.

I love their meaty tempranillo when it’s available, but I’m often conflicted on what to take home. If you need a place with great wines and no pretentiousness, Hard Row to Hoe shouldn’t be missed.

Pro tip: They also have a tasting room in Leavenworth so make sure to visit if you’re planning a trip to the Leavenworth wineries.

Nefarious Cellars

website | Manson, WA (get directions) | tasting fee: ~$15 pp, waived with 2 bottle purchase | hours: Tues-Sun from 11 am – 5 pm in summer, weekends only 12 pm to 5 pm in winter (check their website for specifics)

This was the first winery we ever went to in Chelan and the one that left the biggest impression because of its property. They have a gorgeous view of the lake and they know it — you’ll find Adirondack chairs perfectly perched for taking in the scenery while wine tasting. You can book a stay and wake up to that view each morning of your trip!

Nefarious is the place that all serious wine-o’s will recommend. They make really high quality reds with structure, so it’s the perfect place for red wine lovers. There’s a lot of us though, so make a reservation to ensure you get to try their wines!

Cairdeas Winery

website | Manson, WA (get directions) | tasting fee: ~$15 pp, waived with 2 bottle purchase | hours: daily from 12 pm – 5 pm

I likely would have never found Cairdeas (pronounced “card-is”), but it was recommended to me by the owner of Cloudlift Cellars, one of my favorite wineries in Seattle. The name is an ancient Gaelic word that means friendship, goodwill, or alliance, a nod to winemaker Charlie’s Irish heritage and his wife Lacey’s goodwill working for many years in the nonprofit space before becoming president of the winery.

They started their winery in West Seattle, but decided to move their Rhône-style wines to Lake Chelan. Their wines are dry and delicate, some adorned with wine labels drawn by their son. You’ll be able to enjoy them from their gorgeous tasting room perched on a hill overlooking their vines and the lake.

One Wines

website | Chelan, WA (get directions) | tasting fee: ~$15 pp, 50% waiveed per bottle | hours: usually Wed-Sun from 12 pm – 5 pm-ish (check their website for specifics, as hours change seasonally)

One Wines is run by husband and wife, Jo and Greg, and they make only 3 wines: one each of white, rose, and red. Such focus lets them make sure each vintage leverages the best local grapes to make interesting blends. And since their tasting room is off the main drag of downtown Lake Chelan, it feels like a hidden gem.

I’ve loved every one of their wines, but I tend to always buy their lovely rosé. It has heft, but is an easy sipper during warmer weather.

Tipsy Canyon Winery

website | Manson, WA (get directions) | tasting fee: ~$15 pp, waived with a bottle purchase | hours: daily from 11 am – 5:30 pm

Tipsy Canyon is one of the best wineries in Chelan if you want a more laid-back, unpretentious experience. Owners Mark and Tami Garvin always dreamed of retiring and creating a destination where people could kick back and connect over wine, so they plotted how to leave their corporate world and began making wine as a hobby.

Fast forward 15 years and they were running a winery full time that hosts music events, holiday celebrations, and more. This spot feels like a locals’ only hang, which is a rarity in a wine region growing with visitors every year.

Wine wise they create both estate wines and those supplemented by grapes from local wineries or the Columbia Valley. I really enjoy their reds, many of which are big and tannic, so make sure to try those!

Vibe Cellars

website | Manson, WA (get directions) | tasting fee: ~$15 pp, waived with 2 bottle purchase | hours: daily from 12 pm – 5 pm

Vibe Cellars is a newer winery in Chelan, but its winemaker is no stranger to the business. Owner Eric got into winemaking thanks to his twin brother, who happened to start making wine as a hobby. Since he’d always worked at bars in school, he saw it as a way to stay in the booze industry and so got his enology certificate at WSU.

Earlier in his career, Eric worked at Nefarious Cellars. He got a hankering for making his own wine, and so asked to create a label using their facility. In true Chelan Valley spirit, obviously Nefarious obliged.

Eric has since moved his production to Succession Wines, where he also works to support his new venture. He sources his wines mostly from Gilbert Cellars and other vineyards out of Yakima that he knows through his dad’s Boeing Wine Club relationships. He hopes to start sourcing from Chelan vineyards, but unfortunately many of them use up their own grapes.

I was really impressed with not only the unpretentious tasting room overlooking Manson Bay Park, but also the mash up of Italian and Bordeaux-style wines. Eric said his Super Tuscan is a crowd pleaser and I understand why because I took home a bottle myself. It’s fruit forward but not sweet and just begs to be paired with pizza.

Tildio Winery

website | Manson, WA (get directions) | tasting fee: ~$14 pp, waived with a bottle purchase | hours: daily from 12 pm – 5 pm (6 pm on Fri & Sat)

Tildio Winery is named after the bird you’ll likely see swooping between vines in Chelan Valley. Its owners Milum and Katy Perry found a spot with lovely views of the lake early in their relationship and decided to plant vines. Then Katy used her prestigious winemaking background at well-known brands like Chateau Ste. Michelle to turn their grapes into easy drinking wines perfect for enjoying on a patio.

They now produce about 3,000-5,000 cases of wine a year. On my last trip I was really into their syrah rosé. It started big and dry, but then unfolds into ripe strawberries and a body you don’t often get in French-style rosés. If this is on the list when you visit, make sure to try it!

Tsillan Cellars

website | Chelan, WA (get directions) | tasting fee: ~$15 pp, waived with 2 bottle purchase | hours: Sun-Thurs from 12 pm – 6 pm (8 pm on Fri & Sat)

I’ll be honest: I fully expected to hate Tsillan Cellars the first time I arrived. It’s large huge estate winery a la Chateau Ste. Michelle, but with a borderline over-the-top Italian grandeur aesthetic. I assumed this meant it was more about being a wedding venue and less about the wines.

However, I was completely wrong. Despite their grand front, Tsillan Cellars only produces up to 7,000 cases of wine a year. This makes them the largest in Chelan Valley, but small beans compared to most wineries in Washington. This allows them to attend to their vines by hand and ensure quality control in every bottle.

They grow an impressive array of grapes, many that you don’t find in the valley. Sangiovese, syrah, merlot, malbec, nebbiolo, barbera, cabernet sauvignon, cab franc, grenache, chardonnay, pinot grigio, riesling, and and gewurztraminer can all be found on the property. You’ll find them transformed into award-winning, Italian-style wines that are true crowd pleasers.

Pro tip: They also have an onsite restaurant called Sorrento. It’s not my top choice for dining in Chelan because it can be inconsistent, but they have some excellent dishes if you know how to order. If available, get the swordfish puttanesca, spaghetti and meatballs, and pumpkin boudin dessert.

Tunnel Hill Winery

website | wines available online only

Tunnel Hill used to have a tasting room in Lake Chelan, but they’ve since closed and are only available via direct purchase. They make excellent wines, particularly white wines, so if you need to stock up on wine I recommend ordering some of their wines!

BONUS: Rootwood Cider

website | Manson, WA (get directions) | tasting fee: ~$15 pp | hours: Wed-Sun from 11 am – 5 pm

While not a winery, I had to include Rootwood for the cider lovers out there. I’m not usually a big cider fan, but Chad and Jeana of Chelan Valley Farms insisted that I visit Rootwood during one of my trips to the valley. Though skeptical, I obliged.

I’m happy I did. Rootwood has a variety of ciders, most of which are on the dry side. It’s owned by the Koenig sisters Emily, Kate, and Anna who are the 5th-generation owners of the family business. However the family history is mostly steeped in tending to orchards, so they’re leading the business into new territory turning their apples into ciders.

They offer ciders by the glass and growler, or you can do a flight similar to a wine tasting experience. You can also tour the orchards and u-pick along with tasting if that’s of interest!

Pro tip: They have a provisions store called Lake Effect Provisions in downtown Manson that has thoughtful foodie items and a focused-but-excellent soup and sandwich menu. I love going here for lunch between wine tastings!

Where to stay in Chelan

You’ll find the majority of wineries scattered between two main towns: Manson and Chelan. Both towns have quaint main drags where you can find stores, restaurants, bars, and wine tasting rooms.

I prefer staying in Manson on the north shore because it’s quieter and has the majority of my favorite wineries. However, the downtown Chelan area is better if you plan to make day trips up to Winthrop or Leavenworth, as staying in Manson requires a 15-20 drive to get to the main highway that takes you to these nearby towns.

If you’re looking for specific places to stay, check out my guide to the best places to stay in Lake Chelan.

Map of the best wineries in Lake Chelan

Here is a map of all the Lake Chelan wineries I’ve either visited or want to try in the future. Tap the pins to get my thoughts of wineries not on this list, including popular ones like Karma Vineyards, Siren Song, and Rocky Pond.

I also included restaurant recommendations, accommodations, and activities on the map to give you a sense of space.

Other things to do around Lake Chelan

Here are things to do near Lake Chelan wineries between tastings:

Explore more wine regions

I’m always on the hunt for the best Washington wines and best Oregon wines, so check out my guides to the best Pacific Northwest wineries!

Comments

Leeza says

November 30, 2016 at 4:43 am

Make sure to stop at Benson Estate Winery next time you are there. The views are breathtaking and the wines are great! They have a few sitting areas, so it is perfect for bringing a snack and enjoying a glass.
- Adria Saracino says
  
  November 30, 2016 at 5:45 am
  
  Thanks for the recommendation! I’ll have to check them out next time we’re in town!