By: Mike Papritz
It all began in 2004 when we acquired 14 idyllic acres in Chelan. Our objective? To purchase a piece of land where we could revel in play, build, explore, and play some more. Our children were in their formative years, and this mountaintop haven became our piece of paradise completely off the grid. Summers were a blend of property adventures, memories in the Columbia River, and lakeside frolics at Lake Chelan. Winters brought cozy bonfires in the snow, sled races, and mugs of steaming hot chocolate, all while deepening our understanding of the remarkable natural world that surrounded us. This landscape was our classroom.
Fast forward to 2018, when our children—Colter, Sydney, and Tanner—had all embarked on their individual adventures. The project of raising kids, though never truly finished, had shifted. Laura suggested I needed a new project. So, after contemplation over a few months (with the aid of my favorite microbrews), an idea was born. We possessed this extraordinary property in the burgeoning wine haven of the Chelan valley. Why not create a winery? I decided to go back to school to master the art and science of viticulture while fashioning a setting where people could savor wine within an adventurous backdrop. And so, Elevate Vineyards was born.
So I enrolled in the world-class WSU Viticultural Program. However, our two-year journey was upended by the unforeseen challenge of Covid. Nevertheless, as fate would have it, we were planting our vineyard during a time when much of the world stood still. As a family, we planted both the east and west vineyards, and the initial stage of our winemaking dream became a reality. You'll notice that our labels embody the essence of adventure in elevated spaces. Our tasting room, with its commanding view of the Columbia River, Lake Chelan, and the North Cascades, embodies the very idea of adventure for all.
When we're not tending to the vineyard or welcoming guests in the tasting room, you'll find us hiking, mountain biking, cliff diving, snowboarding, snowshoeing, split boarding, rafting, and scaling mountains. We live and breathe the spirit of the mountains, and we're thrilled to share the adventurous spirit of Elevate Vineyards with you.