Quilceda Creek

Quilceda Creek Vineyards Foundation

Founded in 1978, Alex and Jeannette Golitzin dedicated the winery to the production of world-class Washington State Cabernet Sauvignon. In 1992, their son Paul Golitzin joined the winery intent on realizing his parents’ vision by focusing Quilceda Creek’s attention on its greatest asset— the vineyards of the Columbia Valley.

With Paul's philosophy of "spare no expense, be it time, money, or effort," Quilceda quickly moved up the ranks, becoming a nationally renowned estate. Under the mentorship of his father and great-uncle, Andre Tchelistcheff, Paul Golitzen perfected Cabernet Sauvignon and continues to strive for greater heights. 

From Russia, With Love

The Golitzin family heritage begins in Russa, where Alex's grandfather, Prince Lev Sergeevich Galitzine, cultivated grapes in Crimea before serving as the head winemaker to Czar Nicholas II’s Abrau Dursau estate. As one of the pioneers in Russian winemaking, Price Lev grew a name as "the creator of Russian champagne" and was recently honored on a 2020 Russian postage stamp. After many years at the top of Russia's wine industry, Prince Lev's family fled the country at the beginning of the Russian Revolution, seeking safety in France. 

It was here where Alex Golitzin was born and grew an immediate attraction to wine. Exploring the vineyards of Bordeaux and Burgundy, Golitzin was surrounded by the world's best wine and winemakers. However, in 1946, the family moved to San Francisco due to the dire state of France after World War II. They were sponsored by none other than the great Andre Tchelistcheff, Alex's uncle.

While in San Francisco, Alex regularly visited his uncle's vineyards in Napa Valley and developed a close relationship with Tchelistcheff who later became his mentor. 

Washington State's Finest Estate

Before his work as a winemaker, Alex Golitzin developed a career as an engineer for the Scott Paper Company, forcing him and his wife Jeannette to move to Seattle. It was in Washington where the Golitzins slowly began producing wines, making one "trial" barrel a year from 1975 to 1977. It was then, in 1978, when the pair pulled the trigger and opened Quilceda Creek Winery. 

As only the 12th winery in Washington at the time, Quilceda quickly blossomed as the state's top estate, with the inaugural 1979 vintage winning a gold medal and Grand Prize from the Enological Society of the Pacific Northwest. As only 150 cases were produced, the vintage became a hot commodity and pushed Quilceda wines to cult status. 

Legendary Columbia Valley Terroirs

In 1985 the estate began sourcing fruit from the Champux Vineyard, one of the oldest and most prestigious vineyards in the Horse Heaven Hills AVA of the Columbia Valley. As of 2024, Quilceda Creek Vineyards own 79% of the historic vineyard, making it one of the most important factors in the estate's high-quality Cabernet. Alongside the Champoux Vineyard, Quilceda owns two other sites: the Galitzine Vineyard and the Mach One Vineyard. All three sites hold a unique position in the production of wines with varying terroirs and growing techniques.

• The Champoux Vineyard is set in the foothills of Columbia Valley at an elevation of 600-800 feet. Located in one of the warmer appellations of the valley, cool nighttime air moderates the daytime warmth, producing long-lived, balanced grapes with natural acidity. The high-density plantings of the vineyard work well with the fine, sandy loam, and well-drained soils, promoting deep root development.
• The Galitzine Vineyard is the estate's namesake vineyard, situated in the small Red Mountain AVA. At 17 acres in size, the grapes were planted from 2001 to 2002 and contain powerful, structured wines with intense black fruit and earth minerality. The high-density plantings of the vines promote healthy competition between the vines and smaller vines, which in turn produce fewer clusters and grapes with a greater skin-to-pulp ratio. Furthermore, dramatic day-to-night temperature swings mean this vineyard is the first to be harvested in late September.
• The Mach One Vineyard is the youngest of Quilceda's three sites, planted in 2009 with additional acreage added in 2015-17 and 2020-21. Located in the southeastern corner of Horse Heaven Hills AVA, the site is moderated by the nearby Columbia River, benefitting from the river's cool nighttime winds and low elevation. Over 300 days of sunlight shine over Mach One, as radiant heat from basalt-lined cliffs force early bud break. Consequently, the Cabernet Sauvignon is powerful, yet elegant, developing full physiological ripeness and flavor.

Quilceda Creek: Critical Acclamations

99 Point 2008 Quilceda Creek - WA State Cabernet Sauvignon, indistinguishable from Bordeaux 1st Growths.

"Quilceda Creek not only held its own, but was indistinguishable from its Bordeaux brethren."- Robert M. Parker, Jr. Dec 1999

"Without a doubt, this awesome estate, which is run by Paul and Alex Golitzin, is producing some of the top Cabernet Sauvignon blends in the state, and I would venture, the world." writes Jeb Dunnuck. And this is after the above quote from Robert Parker when he blind-tasted the 1996 Quilceda Creek to Château Margaux and Château Mouton-Rothschild.

Ready to drink, Ready to collect! As documented the 2008, Quilceda Creek, by multiple critics, "While wonderful now, it will cellar well for at least another decade." Decanter 2020 and "I thoroughly enjoyed it now, yet it will age for decades." Jeb Dunnuck 2013.

"A massive, intense wine that's close to perfection. Right out of the gate there's layered aromas of blackberry pie, ripe blueberry, sagebrush and black tea. The freshness is extraordinary, as is the seamless mouthfeel and texture. Opulent blackcurrant, blackberry pie, mocha, Asian spices and sage flavours lead to a long finish. While wonderful now, it will cellar well for at least another decade." OB for DC Mar 2020

- Decanter Magazine - 99 Points - 2008 Quilceda Creek

"A smidge more evolved than the 2002, the 2001 Cabernet Sauvignon is made from 97% Cabernet Sauvignon and 3% Cabernet Franc, mostly from the famed Champoux Vineyard in the Horse Heaven Hills AVA. It offers a rock star bouquet of blackberry liqueur, cassis, dried licorice, spice and roasted meats to go with a full-bodied, concentrated, yet incredibly polished and elegantly textured mouthfeel. Blockbuster stuff that has everything, it is still youthful and vibrant and has another decade or more of longevity, although I see no reason to delay gratification." - JD for WA Jun 2013

- Robert Parker - 97 Points - 2001 Quilceda Creek