1997 Washington State Vintage

The 1997 growing season in Washington opened with a challenging spring. March and April were much cooler than normal, causing bud break to be late, slow, and erratic across eastern Washington. Before growers could despair, a surprising heat spell in May encouraged vine growth and led to a late May bloom, contributing to a good fruit set. July and August then delivered the warm, dry conditions that allow Washington's Columbia Valley fruit to ripen slowly and incrementally. The critical turning point came in September, which proved cool and unseasonably wet. This moisture pressure forced harvest decisions and separated disciplined producers from those who waited too long. From the warmest sites, Merlot was safely in cellars by mid-September.

• March and April were much cooler than normal, with bud break described as late, slow, and erratic
• A May heat spell rescued the season, encouraging vine growth and producing a good fruit set at late May bloom
• July and August were warm and dry, enabling incremental, steady ripening across the Columbia Valley
• September was cool and unseasonably wet, the vintage's defining challenge; earlier-picking producers at warmer sites fared best

Walla Walla Valley emerged as a standout region in 1997. Its warmer bench sites and the discipline of its pioneer producers allowed Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot to achieve genuine ripeness despite the cool September. Leonetti Cellar, founded in 1977 by Gary and Nancy Figgins as Walla Walla's first commercial winery, and Woodward Canyon, established in 1981 by Rick and Darcey Small as the valley's second winery, both had the experience and vineyard access to navigate the season skillfully. The Columbia Valley's warmer sub-regions generally outperformed cooler sites, with producers sourcing from well-exposed, lower-yielding blocks delivering the most concentrated results. Quilceda Creek, founded in 1978 by Alex Golitzin in Snohomish and dedicated exclusively to Cabernet Sauvignon, and DeLille Cellars, founded in 1992 and among Washington's earliest champions of Bordeaux-style blending, were also active and respected in this era.

• Walla Walla Valley's established producers used experienced vineyard management to secure ripe fruit before September rains intensified
• Leonetti Cellar (founded 1977) and Woodward Canyon (founded 1981) were among Washington's most acclaimed wineries by 1997
• Quilceda Creek (founded 1978 in Snohomish) pursued its singular focus on Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
• DeLille Cellars (founded 1992 in Woodinville) was already pioneering Bordeaux-style blends from top Columbia Valley vineyard sites

The 1997 vintage produced wines of relative elegance rather than outright power. The cool September kept sugar accumulation in check, resulting in naturally higher acidities and refined tannin structures. Red wines from the vintage tended toward finesse, with aromatic profiles showing dark fruit alongside herbal and savory notes that have developed gracefully over time. Merlot, which was particularly large in crop size in 1997, required careful site and producer selection. The best Cabernet Sauvignons, especially from Walla Walla and the warmer Columbia Valley sites, offered structure and length that rewarded cellaring. Decanter's assessment of the vintage as suitable for near-term drinking reflects the approachability of many bottlings, though top producers crafted wines with genuine depth.

• Merlot crop was significantly larger than normal in 1997, making careful producer and site selection especially important
• Cool September conditions preserved natural acidity, giving the best wines clarity, freshness, and food-friendly profiles
• Top Cabernet Sauvignons offered structured elegance rather than extracted power, a style that has aged gracefully
• Decanter rated the vintage three out of five stars and recommended drinking the wines sooner rather than later

At nearly three decades of age, the 1997 Washington vintage is well into its mature phase. Most Merlot-based and lighter red wines from this vintage have passed their optimal drinking windows and should be approached only from the best-kept cellars. The most structured Cabernet Sauvignons from elite producers in Walla Walla Valley, sourced from the warmest and best-exposed sites, may still offer interest for those with well-stored bottles, though primary fruit has long since given way to tertiary development. Collectors considering 1997s today should focus on provenance: bottles with confirmed cold-chain storage and low fill levels are the only reliable candidates for continued enjoyment.

• Most Merlot and lighter red wines from 1997 are past their peak and best consumed promptly if opened
• Top-tier Cabernet Sauvignons from Walla Walla Valley's best producers may still hold if storage conditions were ideal
• Tertiary aromas including leather, dried herbs, and earthiness now dominate in well-evolved bottles
• Provenance and storage history are critical considerations for any 1997 Washington bottles purchased today

The 1997 Washington vintage is best understood as a large-volume, solid-quality year that fell between more celebrated benchmarks. The Washington State Wine Commission records it as a genuine rebound from the previous year's small harvest, with 62,000 tons delivering nearly twice the fruit volume. The vintage demonstrated that Washington's arid Columbia Valley, shielded from Pacific moisture by the Cascade Range, is capable of producing ripe fruit even in cooler, wetter Septembers, provided producers made smart harvest decisions. It reinforced the strength of Walla Walla Valley's pioneering producers and helped cement Washington's growing international reputation for Bordeaux varietals.

• 1997 produced 62,000 tons of grapes statewide, nearly double the prior harvest, per the Washington State Wine Commission
• The vintage confirmed that Washington's desert-like Columbia Valley could recover quickly from difficult spring conditions
• Walla Walla's two founding wineries, Leonetti Cellar and Woodward Canyon, helped anchor the vintage's quality reputation
• The year sits within a broader 1990s narrative of Washington wine gaining international credibility for Bordeaux-style reds

By 1997, Col Solare, the joint venture between Chateau Ste. Michelle and Tuscany's Marchesi Antinori, was already in production, having launched with the 1995 vintage. The collaboration was described as an equal partnership between the two influential producers, united to craft world-class Cabernet Sauvignon from Washington's finest fruit. The partnership's presence underscored Washington's emerging status as a serious international wine region. It was not until 2006 that Col Solare built its dedicated winery and estate vineyard on Red Mountain. In 2024, Marchesi Antinori announced it would take full ownership of Col Solare from Ste. Michelle Wine Estates.

• Col Solare launched with the 1995 vintage as an equal partnership between Chateau Ste. Michelle and Marchesi Antinori
• The collaboration focused from the outset on producing world-class Cabernet Sauvignon from top Washington fruit
• Col Solare's dedicated Red Mountain winery and estate vineyard were not established until 2006
• In 2024, Marchesi Antinori agreed to take full ownership of Col Solare from Ste. Michelle Wine Estates