Ste. Michelle Wine Estates Expands ESTIVAL with New Chenin Blanc

 Ste. Michelle Wine Estates launched ESTIVAL Chenin Blanc, the newest addition to ESTIVAL, a brand dedicated to aromatic white wines from Washington's Columbia Valley.

Building on the successful debut of ESTIVAL Sauvignon Blanc in 2025, the new release further showcases the quality, diversity and growing momentum of Washington State white wines.

The 2025 ESTIVAL Chenin Blanc expands the brand's portfolio at a time of growing consumer interest in the varietal. As one of the fastest-growing white wine categories in the U.S., Chenin Blanc is a natural addition to the ESTIVAL lineup.

How It's Made:The 2025 ESTIVAL Chenin Blanc is sourced from three Columbia Valley vineyard sites, each contributing unique character to the final blend. Fruit from JMST Vineyard provides ripe, opulent flavors, while Andrews Horse Heaven Hills Vineyard contributes balance and acidity. Archie Den Hoed Vineyard adds focused, mineral-driven character. Together, the sites create a wine that balances richness and freshness while expressing the Columbia Valley's warm days, cool nights, and diverse soils.

Led by Lacey Steffey, Head Winemaker for ESTIVAL, the wine reflects the brand's high-touch approach to white winemaking. The blend was fermented in stainless steel, large-format oak oval vessels, and neutral barrels to build texture and complexity while preserving freshness and varietal character.

What They're Saying: "Chenin Blanc is an incredibly versatile varietal that allows us to showcase both the freshness and layered complexity that Washington vineyards can deliver," said Steffey. "By blending fruit from multiple vineyard sites and utilizing a variety of fermentation vessels, we created a wine with beautiful texture, vibrant energy, and a balance of fruit, minerality, and acidity that makes it especially compelling at the table."

"We created ESTIVAL to celebrate the extraordinary potential of Washington aromatic white wines, and Chenin Blanc is a natural next step for the brand," said Perris Fiori, VP of Marketing for Ste. Michelle Wine Estates. "The Columbia Valley offers ideal conditions for producing Chenin Blanc with both richness and freshness. As more consumers and sommeliers embrace the varietal, we're excited to showcase a Washington expression that is vibrant, textured, and distinctly reflective of this world-class winegrowing region."

On the Nose: The 2025 ESTIVAL Chenin Blanc offers aromas and flavors of pineapple, honeydew melon, vibrant tangerine, honeycomb, chamomile tea, green mango, and hints of lemon curd, finishing with a subtle flinty character and round, generous texture on the palate.

Availability: Produced in limited quantities, the wine will focus primarily on on-premise placements beginning in summer 2026.