About Us:
In 2001 the first vineyards were planted, and in 2003 the Stemilt Creek Winery was officially bonded. Our vineyards are situated at 1,600 feet elevation within the Wenatchee foothills on steep northwest facing slopes. Afternoon breezes further accentuate our warm days and cool nights which is crucial for the ideal ripening of wine grapes. We feed the vineyard our rich, world famous compost in the fall to replenish the soil. The vines are high density planted, and low-yield, ensuring the intensity of developing flavors. These site characteristics coax out a unique and recognizable signature among our wines – focused fruit underlying a predominantly earthy complexity.
We specialize in medium to full-bodied red wines. Our production facility is minimalist in keeping with our non-interventionist approach. Small blocks are harvested and fermented in 200 gallon vessels, then punched down on a tailored schedule for extraction. After a steady fermentation and approximately 4-6 weeks on skins our wines are pressed off. 100% of our red wines are barrel aged, estate wines. Our wines spend between 20 and 28 months in barrel depending on product prior to bottling. The best part is the rewarding experience you’ll encounter once you taste our wines. Then you’ll know why we say – Legacy Tradition Heritage. Stemilt Creek Winery is truly a local tradition worth remembering.
History:
Stemilt Creek Winery was founded by Kyle and Jan Mathison in Wenatchee, WA. The Mathison’s are fourth generation farmers. The family has grown fruit trees in the area since Thomas Cyle originally homesteaded in 1893.
Jan Mathison was the driving force behind Stemilt Creek’s inception and operation. She helped define our style with her clarity of vision. Jan made wine from the heart, and without compromise, taking her time to craft delicious wines that people immediately recognized as honest expressions. Because of Jan’s talent in the winery, as well as the appealing hospitality of the Mathison’s, Stemilt Creek soon developed a strong following and extensive Wine Club membership. Jan maintained her role as head winemaker at Stemilt Creek through the 2013 vintage. She continues to share in Stemilt Creek Winery successes.
