DeLille Cellars

DeLille Cellars is a Washington State winery based in Woodinville and associated with the development of the region's premium and cult-wine identity. Founded in 1992 by Jay Soloff, winemaker Chris Upchurch, and brothers Charles and Greg Lill, the winery was established around a focus on site-expressive wines using varieties and blending practices associated with Bordeaux. During its early years, Master of Wine David Lake served as a consulting enologist, adding experienced technical guidance to the young operation. The winery's portfolio is centered on red and white wines inspired by Bordeaux and Rhône traditions. Bordeaux-oriented offerings have included Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot, while Rhône-influenced wines have included Syrah and Roussanne. Its portfolio has included both estate-designated and vineyard-sourced wines, as well as blends intended to express Washington's continental growing conditions. Notable labels associated with the winery include Chaleur Estate, D2, Grand Ciel Cabernet Sauvignon, Harrison Hill, Four Flags Cabernet Sauvignon, Chaleur Blanc, Signature Syrah, Métier, Doyenne, Roussanne, and a traditional Rosé. DeLille sources much of its fruit from eastern Washington, particularly the Red Mountain American Viticultural Area, and operates the Grand Ciel Vineyard estate property there. The winery has also been identified with the use of 100 percent French oak barrels and with blending programs that combine multiple Bordeaux or Rhône varieties. These practices place it in the premium segment of Washington wine, where stylistic precision, vineyard sourcing, and long-term cellar development are central to the brand's appeal. Recognition helped establish DeLille's reputation beyond Washington. In 2000, it received Wine Today.com's Winery of the Year award from The New York Times. At the 2001 San Francisco International Wine Competition, its 1998 Yakima Valley D2 won Best in Show in the premium red blend category. Such awards contributed to the winery's standing as one of Washington State's prominent boutique or cult-oriented producers. In March 2019, DeLille moved its production and offices to the former Redhook Brewery site in Woodinville's Hollywood District. The relocation consolidated winery operations and created a setting for a new tasting-room experience, which was scheduled to open in fall 2019. The Woodinville location connects DeLille with the wider Woodinville wine-country destination while keeping the brand close to the vineyards and production facilities that define its identity. Publicly available reference material describes DeLille as an active winery whose principal business is the production, hospitality presentation, and sale of premium Washington wines.

DeLille Cellars was founded in 1992 in Washington State by Jay Soloff, winemaker Chris Upchurch, and Charles and Greg Lill. The founding concept emphasized premium wines modeled on the traditions of Bordeaux, using varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot. Master of Wine David Lake served as a consulting enologist during the winery's formative years. From its early period, DeLille developed a portfolio that extended beyond single-variety bottlings to include structured red blends and site-focused wines. The winery's Bordeaux-style range came to include Chaleur Estate, D2, Grand Ciel Cabernet Sauvignon, Harrison Hill, and Four Flags Cabernet Sauvignon, along with the white blend Chaleur Blanc. It also developed Rhône-oriented wines, including Signature Syrah, a Syrah associated with Boushey Vineyard sourcing, the Châteauneuf-du-Pape-inspired Métier, the Syrah-and-Cabernet Sauvignon blend Doyenne, Roussanne, and Rosé. The winery's production identity has been closely linked to eastern Washington. It sources grapes primarily from the Red Mountain AVA and maintains the Grand Ciel Vineyard estate property there. The use of 100 percent French oak barrels and the blending of Bordeaux and Rhône varieties reflect an approach aimed at producing age-worthy, cellar-oriented wines with a strong regional identity. This combination helped DeLille become associated with Washington's premium and cult-wine segment. DeLille gained national attention through competition and media recognition. In 2000, Wine Today.com, associated with The New York Times, named it Winery of the Year. The following year, DeLille's 1998 Yakima Valley D2 won Best in Show in the premium red blend category at the San Francisco International Wine Competition. These distinctions reinforced the winery's reputation among Washington producers and helped distinguish its blends in the broader American wine market. A major operational change took place in March 2019, when DeLille moved its production and offices to the former Redhook Brewery site in Woodinville's Hollywood District. The relocation brought production and administration together at a prominent wine-country destination and was accompanied by plans for a new tasting room, expected to open in fall 2019. The site gave DeLille a stronger hospitality presence while retaining its connection to Washington vineyard sources. The available reference material does not establish a complete account of subsequent ownership, executive succession, distribution expansion, or current production volumes. It does, however, identify DeLille Cellars as an active Woodinville winery with a premium portfolio rooted in Bordeaux and Rhône varieties, Red Mountain and other eastern Washington vineyard sources, and an established tasting-room presence.

• 2019

  Production and offices moved to the former Redhook Brewery site

  [1]DeLille Cellarsen.wikipedia.org

  DeLille relocated its operations to Woodinville's Hollywood District and prepared a new tasting-room facility.

• 2001

  D2 received Best in Show recognition

  [1]DeLille Cellarsen.wikipedia.org

  The 1998 Yakima Valley D2 won Best in Show in the premium red blend category at the San Francisco International Wine Competition.

• 2000

  Named Winery of the Year

  [1]DeLille Cellarsen.wikipedia.org

  DeLille received Wine Today.com's Winery of the Year recognition from The New York Times.

• 1992

  DeLille Cellars was founded

  [1]DeLille Cellarsen.wikipedia.org

  Jay Soloff, Chris Upchurch, Charles Lill, and Greg Lill established the winery in Washington State.

• 1992

  David Lake joined as consulting enologist

  [1]DeLille Cellarsen.wikipedia.org

  Master of Wine David Lake provided consulting enology during the winery's early years.

A premium Washington winery positioned around Bordeaux- and Rhône-inspired wines, eastern Washington vineyard sourcing, French-oak élevage, and a boutique, cult-wine reputation.

• Bordeaux-style red blend

  Chaleur Estate

  A Bordeaux-oriented DeLille label associated with the winery's premium blend program. The style draws on varieties traditionally used in Bordeaux and is part of the portfolio that established DeLille's reputation for structured Washington red wines.

• Bordeaux-style red blend

  D2

  A flagship DeLille red blend made in a Bordeaux-inspired style. The 1998 Yakima Valley bottling won Best in Show in the premium red blend category at the 2001 San Francisco International Wine Competition, making D2 one of the winery's most publicly recognized wines.

• Cabernet Sauvignon

  Grand Ciel Cabernet Sauvignon

  A Cabernet Sauvignon label connected with Grand Ciel Vineyard, DeLille's estate vineyard property on Red Mountain. It represents the winery's emphasis on eastern Washington vineyard sourcing and premium, French-oak-aged Cabernet production.

• Bordeaux-style red wine

  Harrison Hill

  A named DeLille wine in the winery's Bordeaux-style portfolio. It sits alongside the estate and blend labels that form the core of DeLille's premium Washington red-wine offering.

• Cabernet Sauvignon

  Four Flags Cabernet Sauvignon

  A Cabernet Sauvignon offering included in DeLille's Bordeaux-focused range. The wine reflects the brand's concentration on classic Bordeaux varieties cultivated in Washington's eastern vineyards.

• Bordeaux-style white blend

  Chaleur Blanc

  The white counterpart to DeLille's Bordeaux-inspired blend program. Chaleur Blanc broadens the portfolio beyond red wines while retaining the winery's emphasis on classic European varieties and Washington fruit.

• Syrah

  Signature Syrah

  A Rhône-oriented DeLille wine centered on Syrah. The label represents the winery's expansion from Bordeaux varieties into Rhône styles and its use of eastern Washington vineyard sources, including fruit associated with Boushey Vineyard.

• Châteauneuf-du-Pape-style red blend

  Métier

  A Rhône-style red blend made in a style inspired by Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Métier is part of DeLille's effort to interpret southern Rhône blending traditions through Washington State grapes.

• Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon blend

  Doyenne

  A red blend combining Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon. Its composition illustrates DeLille's willingness to combine Bordeaux and Rhône influences within a Washington-focused wine program.

• White wine

  Roussanne

  A Roussanne bottling that represents the winery's Rhône-inspired white-wine production. It complements the red blends and Chaleur Blanc within DeLille's broader premium portfolio.

• Rosé wine

  Rosé

  A traditional rosé offering in DeLille's portfolio. It provides a lighter style alongside the winery's structured Bordeaux and Rhône-influenced reds and whites.

• 2019

  Consolidation of production, offices, and tasting-room operationsStrategy

  Background

  DeLille operated in the Woodinville wine region and sought a larger or more integrated base for production and visitor hospitality.

  Action taken

  The winery moved production and offices to the former Redhook Brewery site in Woodinville's Hollywood District and planned to open a new tasting room there.

  Aftermath

  The move positioned DeLille within Woodinville's wine-country visitor district and created a consolidated setting for winery operations and customer experiences.

  Source

1. 1DeLille Cellarsen.wikipedia.org
2. 2DeLille Cellars Official Websitedelillecellars.com