Chateau Ste. Michelle Harvest Select Riesling

Chateau Ste. Michelle Harvest Select Riesling is a semi-sweet Washington State white wine bottled at 10.5% ABV in a standard 750ml format. Distinguished by its 91% Riesling and 9% Muscat blend, this Columbia Valley bottling earned a Gold medal at the Dan Berger's International Wine Competition for its 2013 vintage — a testament to the consistency of Chateau Ste. Michelle's sweeter Riesling program.

Quick Facts: ABV: 10.5%  |  Origin: Columbia Valley, Washington State  |  Semi-Sweet White Wine  |  Winery: Chateau Ste. Michelle

Production & Heritage

Chateau Ste. Michelle, founded in 1934, stands as Washington State's oldest and most recognized winery. The Harvest Select Riesling is fermented at cooler temperatures in stainless steel tanks over a three-week period, a deliberate approach designed to preserve aromatic intensity and freshness. What separates this expression from the winery's standard Columbia Valley Riesling is the addition of 9% Muscat grapes to the blend, which contributes floral lift and a rounder, sweeter profile while the stainless steel fermentation keeps the fruit clean and vibrant.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The nose opens with ripe stone fruit — peach and apricot dominate — followed by delicate floral notes and a subtle honeyed quality. There is a lemon-tea character underneath that keeps the aromatics from feeling one-dimensional.

Taste: On entry, luscious ripe peach floods the palate, quickly joined by juicy apricot and tropical mango tones at the mid-palate. The sweetness is generous but never cloying, held in check by Washington Riesling's signature crisp acidity, with faint citrus undertones providing structure through the peak.

Finish: The finish is medium in length, trailing off with lingering stone fruit and a clean, slightly honeyed fade. A thread of bright acidity carries through to the end, leaving the palate refreshed rather than heavy.

How to Drink Harvest Select Riesling

Serve well chilled, between 40–45°F, in a standard white wine glass to concentrate the aromatics. This is a wine built for easy, immediate enjoyment rather than decanting or aging.

• Riesling Spritz: The natural sweetness and lower alcohol make it an ideal base for a white wine spritzer with sparkling water and a lime wheel.
• White Sangria: Its peach and apricot character pairs naturally with fresh-cut stone fruit and citrus in a chilled summer sangria.
• Wine Cocktail with Elderflower: A splash of St-Germain elderflower liqueur amplifies the existing floral notes in the Muscat component for an aromatic aperitif.

Best For

• Introducing a friend to off-dry Riesling without overwhelming sweetness
• Warm-weather porch sessions and casual outdoor entertaining
• Pairing with weeknight Asian takeout or spicy dishes
• Stocking as a crowd-pleasing house white for guests with varied palates

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Harvest Select Riesling taste like? It delivers rich, ripe peach and apricot flavors with floral and tropical mango accents, balanced by crisp acidity that prevents the semi-sweet profile from feeling heavy.

How does Harvest Select Riesling compare to Chateau Ste. Michelle Columbia Valley Riesling? The Harvest Select is intentionally made in a sweeter style than the standard Columbia Valley Riesling, largely due to the 9% Muscat blended in. The Columbia Valley bottling leans drier with more prominent citrus, while the Harvest Select emphasizes lush stone fruit and floral sweetness.

Is Harvest Select Riesling good for beginners? Its approachable sweetness, low 10.5% ABV, and fruit-forward character make it an excellent entry point for drinkers who find dry whites too austere or tannic reds intimidating.

Where is Harvest Select Riesling made? It is produced by Chateau Ste. Michelle, Washington State's founding winery, using grapes sourced from the Columbia Valley — a large, warm AVA in eastern Washington known for producing expressive, fruit-driven Riesling.

What foods pair well with Harvest Select Riesling? Thai green curry benefits from the wine's sweetness tempering the chili heat. Glazed pork tenderloin echoes the stone-fruit and honey notes. Fresh shrimp spring rolls complement the wine's delicate florals. Mild soft cheeses like Havarti mirror its creamy texture. Peach cobbler or fruit tarts create a harmonious dessert pairing without overwhelming the wine's lighter body.

What sizes does Harvest Select Riesling come in? It is widely available in the standard 750ml bottle.

Is Harvest Select Riesling worth the price? It positions squarely as an entry-level, everyday white wine, and within that tier it over-delivers — the Muscat blending adds a layer of complexity uncommon in similarly priced semi-sweet Rieslings, and consistent scores averaging around 86–87 points confirm reliable quality vintage to vintage.

Why Harvest Select Riesling?

The defining move here is the 9% Muscat addition — a production decision that gives this wine a floral dimension most entry-level American Rieslings simply lack. Chateau Ste. Michelle has decades of Riesling expertise in Washington State, and the Harvest Select benefits from that institutional knowledge: cool-fermented in stainless steel to lock in aromatics, then balanced between sweetness and the natural acidity the Columbia Valley reliably delivers. A Gold medal at the Dan Berger's International Wine Competition underscores that this is not an afterthought in the lineup but a deliberately crafted expression. For anyone seeking a semi-sweet white wine with genuine varietal character rather than simple sugar, this bottling consistently earns its reputation.