SEAGuide
The Best Wineries Near Lake Chelan
Washington is home to several wine regions, but the area around Lake Chelan is one of our favorites. And that’s not just because it’s socially acceptable to show up to a wine tasting in a wet swimsuit.
The Ice Age glaciers that carved Chelan Valley left behind a unique terroir, which is a fancy way of saying that the soil is coarse, sandy, and rich with quartz and mica. This, along with the sunshiney climate and the cooling “lake effect,” make the surrounding area uniquely suited for growing a wide variety of grapes.
Today, there are over 40 wineries in Chelan, Manson, and beyond. If that sounds overwhelming, we’ve rounded up the best wineries near Lake Chelan, along with a brewery and cidery. We’ve also got a full guide on where to eat in the area.
THE SPOTS
Nefarious Cellars is the very first Lake Chelan winery you’ll pass on your way into town, and first in our hearts. The owners/winemakers are down to earth, their tastings are relaxed, and their bottles are all estate-only—that means the winery owns the vineyard where the grapes are grown, and it’s also a marker of high-quality stuff.
Grab an Adirondack chair on the patio, order a tasting flight, and take in the sweeping lake views. The lawn, equipped with chairs, umbrellas, and a swing set, is ideal for letting the kids do some frolicking while you sip on a syrah. There’s plenty of room for a picnic too, so hit the farm stand across the street for fruit, cheese, and crackers to make a day of it.
photo credit: Meg Raines
You can’t miss Cairdeas if you’re on a Chelan wine tour—we mean this literally, as it’s impossible not to see their copper-roofed barn from across the lake. Taking inspiration from the Rhône Valley, the husband-and-wife team behind this operation produces bold grenaches and easy-to-drink red blends. Their rosé and white options, with notes of summer berries and stone fruit, are perfect for the area's dry heat, and they also have a Sodo tasting room if you don’t want to lug a case back to Seattle.
If you can't make it to Tuscany, you might have to settle for Tsillan Cellars. But even though it’s no international vacation, the rolling vineyards, manicured gardens, and medieval clock tower here hardly feel like a reluctant second option. Park yourself beneath the villa, sample some red blends, and gaze down at the lake while pretending you’re Florentine royalty.
For a special occasion meal, try their sit-down Italian spot, Sorrento’s Ristorante. The crispy calamari with lemon pepper aioli is the best starter on the menu, and the linguine al pescatore with scallops, prawns, and crab is a must if being near a large body of water has you craving seafood.
photo credit: One Wines
We only take candy from strangers on Halloween and when we’re at One Wines, a cozy cottage home to one of Chelan’s most unique tasting experiences. It’s owned and operated by Greg and Jo, a charismatic husband-and-wife team, and tastings here are casual and typically feature a rotating sweet treat paired with their wines. Sure, you could buy a bottle of red and some peanut butter cups from Trader Joe’s, but at One Wines, Jo can teach you why orange creamsicle fudge tastes so good with their bright and juicy white. On a sunny day, kick back in an Adirondack chair on the shaded patio and hang out with locals getting off work.
Tipsy Canyon is where you come to escape the upper 90-degree temperatures with a glass of chilled rosé. They have live music on their canyon-like property, which creates a natural amphitheater, meaning every lawn chair has excellent stage and mountain views. But if you really enjoyed your tasting, you might be dancing in the front row instead. Thankfully, Tipsy Canyon also offers overflowing charcuterie boards for the moment you realize it’s dinner time and you forgot to go grocery shopping. Like many of their winemaking peers, they’ll waive your tasting fee with the purchase of a bottle.
Just about every winery near Lake Chelan has an incredible view, but Silver Bell’s might be the best. The tasting room is on a hilltop above Manson, so you can look out over the lake and also get a glimpse of the Cascade mountains. Outside, they have a patio and a grass lawn, where you can play cornhole while sipping their Aubaine or Moxie red blends. To really nail the backyard party vibe, Silver Bell also allows dogs, so you can hang out with your own pup or someone else’s.
Lake Chelan Winery has something the other options in the area don't: excellent kielbasa. Everything else their fast-casual, on-premises BBQ restaurant serves is pretty hit or miss, but they have a huge wine list and a giant grass lawn where you’ll see kids amped up on Pepsi running around with their parents. Just know the lines can be long if you get there right when they open.
photo credit: Jennan Oaks
POWERED BY
When you find yourself in the mood for a glass of wine alongside something substantial to eat, check out Siren Song. They make great zinfandel and rosé, and there’s also a full food menu with some standout pizzas. Go for a margherita, the Giovanni with sausage and pepperoni, and, if you’re super into balsamic vinegar, the Athena. It comes with figs, prosciutto, mozzarella, goat cheese, and lots of balsamic—both as a drizzle and glazed on pecans.
For a glass of something sparkling, look no further than Karma. They have seven different bottles of méthode champenoise, which just means that the wine was made in the style of champagne but can’t legally be called that since it was produced outside of the French province. Archaic (but important) French laws aside, all of the choices here are bubbly and reliable—whether you go for some blanc de blanc, brut, or sparkling rosé. Karma also does cider, bourbon, and whiskey tastings, along with a rotating selection of great small plates, like homemade hummus and large charcuterie plates.
photo credit: Jennan Oaks
Vin Du Lac sits on the east side of the lake, and like many of the wineries, has an elevated and breathtaking view of all the jet skiers. What sets Vin Du Lac apart from the rest, aside from their short-but-solid wine list, is that they grow vegetables and herbs, like tomatillos, basil, and broccolini, to use at their bistro. When planning a nicer sit-down meal, skip Campbell’s and come here. Vin Du Lac also works if you’re just looking to snack on a cheese plate and sip on syrah or a glass of the sangria they serve occasionally.
When you need a break from wine tasting, grab a pint of craft beer at Lake Chelan Brewery. Everything they pour is brewed in-house, using the clear waters of glacier-fed Lake Chelan. The Manson Beach Blonde, a refreshing wheat beer, takes the edge off the dry Chelan heat. Consider staying for lunch or dinner, where you can pair some fish tacos or a southwest caesar with a beer.
After a day on the lake, a crisp cider on a shaded patio might be even better than a cold glass of sauv blanc from one of the wineries. Rootwood Cider pours craft ciders made with apples from their very own orchard. They offer a rotating selection, including some experimental flavors like rosé, grapefruit rosemary, and even one that’s hop-infused, and you can order a flight and try them all. Their snack menu, with stuff like housemade almond toffee and cider-glazed brat plates, will tide you over until dinner.
