We’ve been blessed with a sunny start to fall. Before winter sets in, what better way than to spend some time outdoors at the expansive grounds at Chateau Ste Michelle? Summer concerts at Ste Michelle are legendary around here. While we definitely missed jamming out to groovy bands this year, the folks at Washington’s founding winery have found creative and resourceful ways of adapting to the pandemic. Want to drink wine at the vineyard and let your hair down? Well, I’m here to tell you that cabana life is here for you. 

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In a nutshell, the stunning cabana is your own private bubble to enjoy with your family or quarantine crew. Visitors are regulated, safety protocols (and masks!) are firmly in place, and guests are limited to five per cabana. There’s nothing quite like watching the sun go down at the vineyard grounds, or tucking into a sunny brunch with your ‘quaran-team’. Sarah Vincent, Event Specialist for Chateau Ste. Michelle, says, “team members of our Guest Services department worked together to come up with the Chateau Cabanas concept. Our merchandise team did an amazing job dressing up the space and making them feel cozy and comfortable. Guests have loved this option to celebrate birthdays, bridal showers, etc.”. 

The good news? A bottle of wine chilling in an ice bucket, glassware, and bluetooth speakers come with your reservation. The even better news is that you won’t ever run out of wine out here. Bottle of white over? No problem, You can always run over to buy more from the Chateau gift shop. To make campers even happier, there are lawn games on offer too—try your hand at cornhole, bocci ball, or a round of jumbo Jenga. The games are sterilized after every use. 

This weekend, we were able to enjoy a glorious afternoon at the private cabanas at the sprawling Chateau Ste Michelle grounds. While we really hoped for the sun to come out, it ended up being a rainy day. The rain actually added to the charm. It was magical to sit bundled up and cozy inside the cabana, with our own roaring firepit, and a bottle of red wine. While white wine would be the conventional choice for an outdoor brunch, the weather demanded a spicy red one. We tried their 2014 Austral red blend and it was just the right red for light day-drinking. Spicy, earthy, and full of ripe berry notes; it was the perfect pour for the cold, drizzly day. Once the rain subsided a bit, we watched geese frolic in the garden pond, saw a family of deer walked by as we strolled around the grounds, and even managed to sample some late-harvest grapes directly from the vine. 

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There’s delicious wine-friendly food to nosh on too—we tried a delicious cheese platter groaning with local and domestic cheeses, a hummus board with fresh crudités and pickles, arugula and pear panini, and delicious, freshly-baked focaccia. We finished things off on a sweet note with a selection of gourmet desserts. Dark chocolate truffles and red wine is a match in heaven! There are so many other food options too—like fresh seafood platters, Italian sandwiches and so much more. Culinary options are available to order directly from the Chateau Kitchen, which will be offering additional food options in the coming months.

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The luxury cabana experience runs through the end of October. You can book exquisite twilight cabanas here, and daytime ones here. Check out other wonderful (and safe!) future experiences here.

Chateau Ste. Michelle Winery | 14111 NE 145th St, Woodinville 98072 | (425) 488-1133