Our Story
At Columbia Crest, we are dedicated to celebrating the rich heritage of Washington winemaking through an unwavering commitment to producing outstanding, approachable wines.
Commitment to Excellence
Nestled alongside the Columbia River in eastern Washington, Columbia Crest winery opened its doors in the heart of the acclaimed Horse Heaven Hills in 1983. Year after year, the winery maintains its commitment to quality, heritage and innovation in grape growing and winemaking to craft exceptional wines.
Extraordinary Craftsmanship
Washington state and the Columbia Valley represent the perfect grape-growing climate, from the weather to the soil to the vineyard sites. These growing conditions, along with outstanding viticulture and winemaking practices, allow Columbia Crest to create high-quality wines that are true to their varietal character and represent the unique terroir of the region.
Critically Acclaimed
From the vineyard to the glass, Columbia Crest wines are an extraordinary expression of craftsmanship. With a large body of acclaim, Columbia Crest winery delivers a steadfast promise with each bottle—world-class wines from a world-class wine region.
Historic Timeline
1982
Doug Gore named Columbia Crest's head winemaker.
1983
Winery and visitor center dedicated and opened in June.
1987
First release of white wine varietals.
1988
First release of red wine varietals.
1990
The Wine Advocate names Columbia Crest as one of the 24 “Best Value Wineries” in the world.
1994
The 1990 Estate Series Cabernet Sauvignon is the only U.S. wine awarded a gold medal at the “Challenge du Vin” in Bordeaux, France.
1997
Columbia Crest makes its first appearance on Wine Spectator’s list of Top 100 wines for the year with two wines: 1994 Cabernet Sauvignon; 1995 Estate Series Chardonnay.
2002
Columbia Crest is named Wine Press Northwest’s first “Pacific Northwest Winery of the Year.”
2003
Ray Einberger is named head winemaker.
2008
Columbia Crest winery celebrates its 25th Anniversary.
2009
Wine Spectator selects the 2005 Columbia Crest Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, with a score of 95 points, as the #1 Wine of the Year in their annual Top 100 Wines of the Year edition – Columbia Crest is the first Washington winery to receive this honor.
2010
The 2007 H3 Merlot is named to Wine Spectator’s list of Top 100 wines of the year, marking Columbia Crest’s sixteenth placement on the list.
2011
Wine & Spirits Magazine names Columbia Crest winery as one of its “American Wineries of the Year.”
Juan Muñoz-Oca is named head winemaker.
2012
Columbia Crest Grand Estates Cabernet Sauvignon makes an appearance on the Today Show as part of a “Best Products of the Year” segment.
2012
New modern packaging is introduced for Columbia Crest’s Grand Estates Tier.
2014
Columbia Crest becomes the first winery to crowdsource a wine from vineyard to table through the Crowdsourced™ Cabernet Sauvignon project.
2015
National release of “H3” Sauvignon Blanc crafted from fruit grown in the Horse Heaven Hills appellation.
2016
Columbia Crest becomes the official wine partner of the Seattle Sounders FC.
