For two decades, Chateau Ste. Michelle’s Artist Series wines have celebrated the inspired collaboration between artisan winemaking and fine art. To commemorate the 20th vintage, Chateau Ste. Michelle is partnering with Dale Chihuly, the first artist to present artwork on the Artist Series label with the 1993 vintage.  The commemorative 2012 Artist Series featuring Chihuly will release nationally in August with a suggested retail price of $65. 

The Artist Series red blend is a unique, collector’s wine that represents the highest quality and pedigree from Chateau Ste. Michelle.  Each Artist Series vintage features the work of renowned artists on the label, from blown glass to bronze sculptures to paint on canvas.

“I’m honored to have my artwork on the 20th vintage Artist Series label,” says Chihuly. “This piece is one-of-a-kind and very special to me. I couldn’t think of a better use than portraying it on this significant wine project.”

For the 20th vintage label, Chihuly selected his Cast Silver Venetian. This unique sculpture was created by Chihuly, and then cast in sterling silver at the Walla Walla Foundry in Washington State. Inspired by Italian Art Deco, Chihuly started his Venetian series in 1988 with Italian glassblower Lino Tagliapietra. Chihuly is known for his artwork and ambitious architectural installations around the world in museums, historic cities and gardens.

To honor this special partnership, Chateau Ste. Michelle will fund an Artist in Residency Scholarship for the Pilchuck Glass School, an international center for glass art education co-founded by Chihuly, located in Stanwood, Washington.

Art in the bottle

Chateau Ste. Michelle Artist Series is a Bordeaux style blend built for aging by carefully blending the top lots of the vintage for power, elegance and structure. The 2012 vintage is a blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc and 2% Malbec. Each grape variety contributes a special attribute to the blend, resulting in a complex wine with layers of aromas and flavors.

“The Artist Series is a very personal statement for me and what I enjoy most about Washington state red wines,” says Chateau Ste. Michelle winemaker Bob Bertheau.  “It’s the first wine I blend every year from the best fruit of the vintage. My goal is to capture Old World refinement, while harnessing the power and concentration of Washington fruit. The idyllic 2012 vintage in Washington gave me some of our best wines to date to craft this special 20th Artist Series bottling. Our vineyard at Canoe Ridge Estate lent elegance, ripeness and soft tannins, while our Cold Creek Vineyard contributed weight, dark fruit and subtle sweetness. This is a beautifully layered, ageable wine and my vision of art in a bottle.”

Previous Artist Series artists include William Morris, Lino Tagliapietra, Ginny Ruffner, Dan Dailey, Joey Kirkpatrick and Flora C. Mace, Stanislav Libensky and Jaroslava Brychotvoa, Italo Scanga, Richard Marquis, Gerard Tsutakawa, Will Robinson, Alden Mason, Bobbie Burgers, Eva Isaksen, T.L Lange, Cara Barer, Andre Petterson, Ben Darby and Bratsa Bonifacho.  

About Chateau Ste. Michelle

Founded in 1934, Chateau Ste. Michelle pioneered vinifera grape growing in Washington state and has been producing classic European varietal wines under the Ste. Michelle label since 1967. The winery combines an ongoing dedication to research with a commitment to classic winemaking traditions. The winery owns 3,500 acres of vineyards in the Columbia Valley of eastern Washington, including Canoe Ridge Estate and Cold Creek, which are LIVE and Salmon Safe certified. Chateau Ste. Michelle enjoys winemaking partnerships with two of the world’s most distinguished vintners.  Col Solare is an alliance with Tuscany’s Piero Antinori and Eroica Riesling is a partnership with the Mosel’s Ernst Loosen.