Quilceda Creek Vintners

Alex and Jeannette Golitzin founded Quilceda Creek Vintners in 1978 in Snohomish, Washington, making it the twelfth bonded winery in the state since the end of Prohibition. Alex, an engineer by trade, was inspired by his uncle, André Tchelistcheff, who was a prominent figure in Napa Valley winemaking and provided early guidance to the estate. The first commercial vintage in 1979 consisted of 150 cases produced in the family garage. Today, the winery remains a family owned and operated business. Their son, Paul Golitzin, joined the operation as a teenager and has served as the president and director of winemaking since 1992, overseeing the estate's development for over three decades.

The winery manages several estate vineyard sites located within the Columbia Valley, specifically in the Horse Heaven Hills and Red Mountain appellations. Its primary source is the Champoux Vineyard, a site first planted in 1972 where the Golitzin family holds a 79 percent majority ownership interest. Other significant holdings include the Galitzine Vineyard and the Mach One Vineyard, the latter located near the Columbia River. The winemaking philosophy focuses on low yields and meticulous vineyard management to produce concentrated fruit. After harvest, the flagship Cabernet Sauvignon is typically aged for 20 months in 100 percent new French oak barrels, sourced from specialized cooperages including Darnajou and Taransaud.

Quilceda Creek is recognized for its singular focus on Cabernet Sauvignon and is credited with helping establish Washington State as a source of high quality red wine. The 2002 Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon became the first American wine produced outside of California to receive a perfect 100 point score from Robert Parker's Wine Advocate. Following that score, the estate has received more than 40 additional 100 point scores from a variety of international critics and publications. Beyond the flagship Cabernet, the producer offers vineyard designate wines such as the Galitzine Cabernet Sauvignon and the CVR Red Wine, which is a blend of various estate lots. The estate received further recognition when its 2005 vintage was served at a 2011 White House state dinner.