DeLille Cellars is a boutique, artisan winery located in Woodinville, Washington. It was founded in 1992 by Charles and Greg Lill, Jay Soloff and celebrated winemaker Chris Upchurch. Wanting to create a new Bordeaux blend using Washington State vineyards, the winery has always looked to the prestigious Red Mountain AVA for the foundation of its wines, including grapes from its own vineyards other top sites in the Yakima Valley.
In 1992, DeLille Cellars pioneered its Chaleur Estate Rouge and D2, both blends of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc. The winery was fortunate to acquire, in 1994, the rights to Harrison Hill vineyard, which is home to some of the oldest vines in Washington. Now, with vines over 50 years old, Harrison Hill has become one of the most sought after Bordeaux blends in the state.
In 1995, observing the Bordeaux tradition of blending varietals together, the winery chose to make a barrel fermented blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon for their first white wine, Chaleur Estate Blanc. Over the years, Chaleur Estate Blanc has demonstrated just how well a properly structured white wine can age.
Currently, the winery produces six Bordeaux-styled wines including Grand Ciel, Chaleur Estate Rouge, D2, Harrison Hill, Four Flags and Chaleur Estate Blanc. Also produced are the Doyenne wines which include classic northern Rhone Syrah (awarded by Robert Parker Jr. of Wine Advocate as one of the great 15 Syrahs of the world), a Roussanne, Metier (a Southern Rhone-style red wine), AIX (a Provence-style red wine) and a Bandol-style Rose.
Robert Parker Jr. of the Wine Advocate also rated DeLille Cellars and Doyenne as two of the top 12 Washington producers, bestowing the title of the “Lafite Rothschild” of Washington State. DeLille Cellars is the only Washington winery to receive recognition in the “Top 100 Wines” by both the Wine Spectator and Wine Enthusiast for two consecutive years