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Northstar was born of a desire to produce the ultimate showcase for Washington's star grape variety - Merlot. The project and winery were conceived in the early 90's as part of a "total quality" initiative at parent company Stimson Lane Vineyards & Estates. It was determined that in order to make the best possible Merlot - one that could ultimately be considered among the world's best - a totally dedicated winemaking team, and ultimately a dedicated winery would be required. In order to bring a more global perspective to Northstar, famed California winemaker Jed Steele was asked to consult on the project, and he eagerly accepted. Both our winemaker and Jed remain keenly involved in Northstar to this day. Northstar's first vintage - 1994 Columbia Valley Merlot - was made at the Grandview winery. Within a few years, production was moved to another winemaking facility in Mattawa where small-lot handling equipment had been purchased and installed specifically for the production of Northstar. During this time, research and planning were taking place for a dedicated winery to be built specifically for Northstar. In 2001, 29 acres of land were purchased just south of Walla Walla, and ground was broken in February 2002. The grand opening of Northstar's state-of-the-art winery in Walla Walla took place on September 20, 2002, just days after the first loads of Merlot grapes were crushed at the new winery. In 2003, 12 acres of Merlot and other Bordeaux varieties were planted on the new estate vineyard on the property, completing the vision from more than ten years prior. Since the beginning, our winemaker and Jed have been cultivating their vineyard relationships around the entire Columbia Valley, and experimenting with various fermentation and oak regimes. The work really began to pay off with the release (and quick sell-out) of the now famous 1998 vintage, which brought Northstar to a new level of quality and acclaim. Vintages since then have been met with increasing enthusiasm from wine critics and consumers alike. Recently, Northstar has added two new wines. Starting with the 2000 vintage, Northstar began making an extremely limited amount of Walla Walla Valley Merlot to showcase the "hometown" terroir. And Stella Maris - a Bordeaux blend of grapes made, but not ultimately selected for Northstar - rounds out the lineup. "Stella" as the wine is affectionately called by the winemaking team is considered the "little sister" to Northstar. Northstar Winery is now open to the public. Home to more than 50 artisan wineries, Walla Walla is a charming community that is quickly becoming a "must see" among wine enthusiasts. We hope you'll come see for yourself why it will one day be known, among other things, as the home of one of the world's truly great Merlot wines.