A couple Tuesdays ago, my friends Valerie and Atul wanted to meet me at Chateau Ste. Michelle for the free music event, “Chateau Tuesdays.” What a fabulous idea – a nice warm summer evening, food trucks, and local Woodinville wine to enjoy! I packed a picnic blanket into my car, picked up Valerie, and headed out.
We wish we’d arrived a bit earlier – the event starts at 5:30 pm, and when I pulled up in my car at 6pm, parking attendants were waving us away because the lots were already full. Columbia Winery across the street didn’t want anyone parking there either, so we drove back towards the Hollywood District to find parking. The soccer field lot was completely full, so we were glad to find a spot in an adjacent field-turned-parking-lot.
After a brief six or so minute walk from our parking spot in a field behind The Commons, we arrived at the grand entrance to the Chateau.
As we walked up to the entrance, I could already hear a Neil Diamond cover song by the band performing that night, Cherry Cherry.
I wanted to show you this beautifully arranged flower garden near the front entrance.
The tree and vine-lined driveway leading up to the Chateau is magnificent. You really feel like you’re entering another world.
The landscaping at the Chateau is gorgeous and impeccable. You can tell a lot of time and care (and money!) goes into maintaining the place.
There are so many stunning hydrangeas around the property.
I really recommend coming early – as you can see from the photos, people were sitting in every possible nook, cranny and edge of lawn they could find. We ended up way far away from where the band was performing on the lawn, but that was ok – we could still hear them, and there were lots of opportunities to people-watch!
Note that the regular concert ampitheater is not used for these free concerts.
Also note that this is a kid-friendly event. That’s good to know if you have well-behaved children and a way to occupy them during the event. It’s also good to know if you prefer not to be around lots of screaming children – unfortunately, I do have to report that by the end of the evening, around 7:30 pm, there were far too many tired crying children whose parents should have taken them home to bed an hour previously. Still, it didn’t mar our enjoyment of the evening, and it was fun chatting with the nice children who visited the peacock with me or petted guests’ dogs along with me.
The Chateau’s security did a good job of keeping walkways clear so people could move about. Nearly every piece of lawn was covered with chairs, picnic blankets and people.
While Valerie and Atul held our spot on the lawn, I waited in line at the Pompeii Wood Fired Pizza food truck, and carried pizza back to our far away picnic spot. The pizzas were delicious, and just the right portion size.
That night there was also an Asian Fusion food truck called The Box.
Another food truck option was Gourmini’s, selling mini sandwiches, soups and salads. I love that there’s a healthy option available (though I opted for cheese pizza, myself that night).
After dropping off the pizza, I went in search of wine for us. The Chateau looked so magnificent in the evening light.
I did find the setup a little confusing, never having been to a Chateau Tuesdays event. I thought there would be a way to get just a glass pour outside. I saw people with Chateau Ste. Michelle logo glassware here and there, and wondered where they’d gotten their wine and glasses from – I should have stopped to ask, but didn’t want to disturb anyone. I wasn’t able to find an outdoor table set up to sell wine pours for a bit, and then when I did, the employee staffing it said her till wasn’t working so she couldn’t sell wine.
So instead, I ventured inside the tasting room in search of wine for myself and my friends.
The gift shop had a display set up with picnic baskets, wine glasses, blankets and folding chairs.
I still wasn’t sure where to get a glass pour, and finally some kind Chateau employees suggested I buy a bottle to share with my friends. A friendly employee in the wine area helped me find a bottle of Chateau Ste. Michelle’s Malbec. It wasn’t clear where to get glasses (plastic cups) to drink the wine out of, until I asked someone else. Then I had to ask again to find out where to open the bottle (something that probably should have been told to me while my purchase was rung up). There’s a little wine opening stand outside where you can open your own bottle.
I think that as well run as the rest of the event is, they might make things less confusing for purchasing, opening and consuming wine during the event. It almost felt like they weren’t quite prepared for the number of people who had shown up.
Wine bottle open, and plastic cups in hand, I returned to my friends to eat my now-cold pizza and enjoy the really, really good Chateau Ste. Michelle Malbec.
Chateau Ste. Michelle is a dog-friendly property, and we met so many wonderful dogs that night! This is Gustav, also known as “Gustie.” He let me pet him, but had a magical ability to turn away from the camera any time I tried to capture his handsome face.
I couldn’t resist going over to visit the Chateau’s peacock, who had been making his presence known a bit noisily for the last ten minutes.
This beautiful peahen wandered over quite close to us, wondering if we would throw her snacks. (We wouldn’t!) You’ll probably see her when you next visit.
About fifteen minutes after the free concert ended, Chateau security came by to nicely ask everyone to pack up and leave. We didn’t mind the brief walk back to our car, on such a nice summer night.
I always stop to admire the charming greenhouse on the property. I never quite get close enough to peek in the windows, but I’m sure curious as to what’s growing inside.
If you’re going to the Chateau tonight for Chateau Tuesdays, I highly recommend arriving before 5pm if you can manage. That will give you time to secure a prime location for your lawn chairs or picnic blankets, get food from the food trucks and buy wine from the tasting room.
Tonight’s performer is electric violinist Geoffrey Castle.
Enjoy!
-Carrie
