Our Vineyards Chateau Ste. Michelle's vineyards are located in Washington state's Columbia Valley, a region separated from Seattle's rainy, marine climate by the Cascade Mountains. The mountains act as a rain shield limiting annual rainfall in the Columbia Valley to 6 - 8 inches and allowing our vineyard managers to control vine vigor through irrigation. During the summer, daytime temperatures hover in the mid-80s under sunny skies; cool nighttime temperatures in the fall protect the grapes' natural acidity and provide perfect conditions for ripening.
