The Best Wineries in Chelan (Organized by Location!)

Last Updated on May 25, 2023 by admin

The Lake Chelan region has over 30 wineries, and trust me when I say all of them are spectacular. It doesn’t get much better than enjoying an excellent local wine with a view of the lake right in front of you. Over the years, I’ve personally been to many of the wineries mentioned in this post. I’m excited to share some of the best wineries in Chelan. I’ve organized the wineries by region (north shore, south shore, downtown, and other), so that you can easily plan a wine tour if you’d like to visit several during an afternoon. I also share which wineries are pet-friendly, serve food, and more! I recommend that you visit as many wineries as you possibly can. Wine tasting is so fun in Chelan!

You can see all our posts on Washington State by clicking here!

Join our newsletter (linked here) for monthly updates!

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I may earn commissions from qualifying purchases from Amazon.com. These sales help to run this blog without any additional cost to you. See our policy page for details.

About Lake Chelan Wineries

The reason that there are so many wineries in Chelan is because the region has ideal soil conditions for growing grapes. Because of the ice glaciers that formed the lake and the surrounding hills thousands of years ago, the soil is coarse and sandy, which happens to be perfect for the vineyards. As a result, the Chelan region has been designated as an American Viticultural Area (AVA), which is a specific demarkation used on wine labels to let consumers know that the grapes were grown within the boundaries of an established wine region.

Be sure to see our post on 32 Things to Do in Chelan!

There are over 30 wineries in Chelan and the vineyards cover over 300 acres. That’s a lot to explore! Some of the wineries are perched in the hills with sweeping views of the lake, some are located in trendy shops downtown, and some have grand estates that are perfect for hosting weddings and large events.

Grape varietals in the area include Syrah (47 acres), Pinot Noir (24 acres), Chardonnay (22 acres), Merlot (22 acres), and Riesling (20 acres). Some unique varietals that grow in Chelan include Aglianico, Dolcetto, and Tannat. You can read more about the wine region here.

See our post on the 18 Best Restaurants in Chelan!

The Wineries at Lake Chelan

The wineries at Lake Chelan are clustered in the following sections of the lake:

North Shore Wineries

Lake Chelan Winery: They offer multiple wine tastings, one of which is a complimentary tasting of four wines! The winery also has a BBQ in the Vineyard on select days, and they are also the makers of Lake Chelan Cheese. Wine and cheese sure do make a great pairing! 3519 WA-150, Chelan, WA 98816
Hard Row to Hoe: This vineyard is built on land that previously a housed a brothel for local miners. Today, it’s the Hard Row to Hoe winery! You’ll find some decor that nods to its scandalous past, and it’s a whole lot of fun! This is a great winery to visit if you’re planning on hosting a bachelorette party in Lake Chelan as well. I think this winery is a lot of fun. 300 Ivan Morse Rd, Manson, WA 98831
Chelan Ridge Winery: The views of the lake are beautiful, and this winery is pet-friendly. In addition to the tasting room, they serve pizza from brick oven. 900 Swartout Rd, Manson, WA 98831
Cairdeas Winery: Pronounced “cardis”, the word means “friendship” in Gaelic. Currently you can get a tasting flight for $15. 31 Winesap Ave, Manson, WA 98831
Succession Wines: After their house burned down, they pursued their passion and created an award-winning winery. They often have live music on Sunday afternoons from May through October. 78 Swartout Rd, Manson, WA 98831
Benson Vineyards Estate Winery: The stone patio is gorgeous and so is the view! You’ll see the lake in the background and the vineyard in the foreground, which makes for beautiful photos! They also frequently host concerts. (Event schedule linked here.) 754 Winesap Ave, Manson, WA 98831

South Shore Wineries

Tsillan Cellars: When you drive into this estate, you will feel like you have been transported to Italy. Their tasting room is decorated with marble and hand-carved wood. Their wines are 100% estate wine, meaning that all of the grapes are grown right on their property. After your wine tasting, we recommend that you dine on their property at Sorrento’s Ristorante. This is easily one of the best wineries in Chelan. I visit this winery often. 3875 Hwy 97A, Chelan, WA 98816
Siren Song Wines: This is another gorgeous winery painted in a deep yellow with plenty of stonework. Their arbor overlooking the lake is the perfect spot for photos. I absolutely love this winery. 635 S Lakeshore Rd, Chelan, WA 98816
Mellisoni Vineyards: With sweeping views of Lake Chelan, Mellisoni Vineyards offers an intimate setting to enjoy their wines. Their tasting fee is currently $20. 3155 US-97 ALT, Chelan, WA 98816
Tunnel Hill Winery: The historic stone buildings were built in 1937. Guests are invited to walk through the grounds, including the vineyards and the Waterfall Garden. I think that this is such a peaceful spot to relax and do a tasting. 37 US-97 ALT, Chelan, WA 98816
Nefarious Cellars: If you have a group of six or less, this is the place to go. They offer an intimate wine tasting experience for smaller groups. 495 S Lakeshore Rd, Chelan, WA 98816

Downtown Wineries

Vin Du Lac Winery: This winery has a farmhouse vibe. Their bistro serves some excellent food to pair with your wines. There is outdoor seating under a covered pergola. 105 WA-150, Chelan, WA 98816
One Wines Inc.: Their tasting room and patio is located in the main downtown area. They focus their efforts on making three excellent wines per year: one red, one white, and one rosé. 526 E Woodin Ave, Chelan, WA 98816
Rio Vista Wines: This winery is located a little bit out of town, but it is definitely worth the drive! The winery is built right alongside the river. (You can even drive your boat up to their dock!) This is one of our favorite wineries. 24415 US-97, Chelan, WA 98816
Sigillo Cellars: Their patio has a view of the lake, and they have paninis on their food menu. 2037 W Woodin Ave, Chelan, WA 98816
Rocky Pond Winery: They have a tasting room in the heart of downtown. 212-A E Woodin Ave, Chelan, WA 98816

Rio Vista Wines winery in Chelan, WA — *A beautiful afternoon at Rio Vista Wines!*

Wine Tours in Chelan

One of the best ways to experience the Chelan wineries is to book a wine tour. Many of the companies have private shuttles or limousines that will take you to several different wineries. That way, you don’t have to worry about driving or parking! (It’s so important to drink responsibly, so if you’re planning to consume wine, please consider one of the tours.)

If you’re planning on going with a group, it’s also a convenient way to travel since everyone can ride together. (Instead of needing to coordinate separate vehicles and drivers.)

The tours do not include the tasting fees at the wineries, so keep that in mind when you are planning your visit.

Here are a few companies to consider:

Chelan Wine Tours and Excursions: You can choose between a 4 or 6 hour tour. Currently their 4-hour tour costs $70 per person. They provide a list of wineries here, and you can customize your tour by choosing the wineries that you want to visit.
Limousine Wine Tours: They offer a silver package (4 hours of wine tasting), a gold package (4 hours of wine tasting plus a two hour meal block), and weekday specials. Their silver package currently costs $75 per person. They also offer special rates to pick you up where you are staying.
Chelan Water to Wine: This is a unique company that will boat you to different wineries. When you’re not sipping wine at the wineries, you will be on the lake! The cost ranges from $145-$165 per person.

We booked a shuttle for my own bachelorette party in Chelan, and it was such a fun experience! The day was stress-free, and all we had to do was enjoy each winery we visited. (Which wasn’t hard to do!)

You may also be interested in our blog post on the best wineries in Woodinville, Washington. (As well as our review of Chateau Ste. Michelle Winery.) We also have a full post on our favorite wineries in Walla Walla. Cheers!

Wine Events in Chelan

There are several large events that take place among the wineries each year. These include:

Washington Wine Month (March): Each of the wineries offer unique discounts and perks during this month.
Spring Release (April): This is the event for white and rosé wine lovers.
Lake Chelan Wine and Jazz Festival (May 19-22, 2022): Over a four day period, you can listen to 23 artists play at 10 different wineries.

Wineries in Chelan That Serve Food

The following wineries we have listed above have restaurants:

Tsillan Cellars
Siren Song Winery
Sigillo Cellars
Vin du Lac Winery
Benson Vineyards
Lake Chelan Winery

(Although please note many of the wineries offer small bites and snacks.)

Wineries in Chelan That Are Dog-Friendly

The following wineries we cover in this post are dog-friendly:

Succession Wine
Lake Chelan Winery
Cairdeas Winery
Hard Row to Hoe Vineyards
Mellisoni
Tunnel Hill Winery
Tsillan Cellars

Wineries Within Walking Distance of Each Other

If you’re planning on driving and you’d also like to visit multiple wineries, it might be best to choose wineries that are close enough together that you can walk between them. Here are a few suggestions:

Downtown: Rocky Pond Winery and One Wine Inc.
North Shore: Succession Wines, Cairdeas Winery, and Lake Chelan Winery
South Shore: Nefarious Cellars and Siren Song Wines

What to Bring When Wine Tasting in Chelan

Some things that might be helpful to bring include:

Insulated water bottle (stay hydrated!)
Portable phone charger (so your cell phone doesn’t run out battery)
Sun hat (many of the wineries offer outdoor seating)
Small crossbody purse (to easily carry your ID and cell phone)
Sunglasses
Wine glass pens (so you can jot down whose wine glass is whose if you have a larger party)

Click on any of the above images for current pricing and shipping information.

Wine Tasting Tips for Chelan Wineries

To make the most of your experience, we recommend the following tips:

Avoid use of fragrances like cologne or perfume (they can interfere with smelling the wines)
Drink plenty of water throughout the day
Wear dark colors if you’re afraid of spilling wine
Be sure to eat throughout the day
Wear comfortable shoes
Wear comfortable clothes and dress in layers
Bring hand sanitizer
Make reservations when you can
Typically allow 60-90 minutes per winery
Drink responsibly

Where to Eat in Chelan

We wrote a full post on our favorite places to eat at Lake Chelan here. If you’re in a hurry, here are a few of our favorites:

When visiting Chelan, one of our favorite places for brunch is Blueberry Hills Farm.
For a quick lunch, we really like to visit the Lakeview Drive-In downtown. You can order a burger and a milkshake and have a beautiful view of the lake.
Many of the wineries offer cheese and charcuterie boards, which is one of our favorite ways to refuel!
For dinner, we recommend either Sorrento’s Ristorante at Tsillan Cellars or eating at Campbell’s Resort. Both have excellent menus and are a nicer spot to end your day. (Hint: If you make a dining reservation at Campbell’s Resort, ask for a table on the skybridge.)

Other Things to Do In Chelan

There are lots of activities in the Chelan area! Here are some ideas for planning your trip:

Rent a party boat
Go parasailing
Go kayaking
Visit Slidewaters water park
Go miniature golfing
Check out a comedy show
Take the ferry to Stehekin (check out our post on Stehekin here)
Drive to nearby Leavenworth (we wrote all about it here)

Where to Stay in Chelan

Booking.com

During our last visit, we rented this awesome vacation home right on the water. It had a hot tub facing the lake, and a steam sauna with a window looking out onto the lake. We wrote about it here if you’re interested in staying there too.

If you prefer to stay in a hotel, Campbell’s Resort is located conveniently downtown and is one of the nicest hotels in the area. They have a lot of amenities, including a private beach, pool, and dining options on their property. (You can make a reservation by clicking this link.)

We have also really enjoyed staying at the Grandview on the Lake. The hotel is located within walking distance of downtown and the rooms have a beautiful up lake view. Many of the units are condos, so they are fully equipped with kitchens. (You can make a reservation by clicking on this link.) You can read all about our stay at the Grandview on the Lake here.

For a full list on lodging options in Chelan, click here.

Visiting Chelan with kids? See our list of 14 Things to Do in Chelan with Kids!

Summary: The Best Wineries in Chelan

There are so many amazing wineries in Chelan. We find ourselves visiting Tsillian Cellars, Siren Song Wines, and Rio Vista Wines frequently. We hope this post was helpful as you plan your visit to Lake Chelan’s wineries!

If this article was helpful to you, please consider sharing it on your social media accounts to further help support our blog. Also, don’t forget to join our newsletter. Thank you!

pinterest pin for wine tasting in chelan — *Feel free to pin for later!*

If you enjoyed this post, you might also be interested in the following posts:

Disclaimer: We always strive for content accuracy. Since the time of publishing, travel-related information regarding pricing, schedules, and hours may have changed. Please look up such information directly from each vendor or institution for the most current information.

Hi, I’m Kelly!

After studying abroad in Spain, I became passionate about international travel. Since then, I’ve traveled to 6 continents and 36 states within the United States. When I’m not travel blogging, you can find me hiking, reading Spanish novels, or playing cribbage. I hope my blog inspires you to see the world!