With the hiring of André Tchelistcheff as a consultant, Chateau Ste Michelle and Associated Vintners became the driving force in premium wine production for the early modern Washington wine industry. Grenache was one of the first Vitis vinifera grapes to be successfully vinified with a 1966 Yakima Valley rosé earning mention in wine historian Leon Adams's treatise The Wines of America. The 1970s ushered in a period of expansion, with early vineyards being planted in the Columbia Gorge, Walla Walla and Red Mountain areas.
The hiring of André Tchelistcheff as a consultant propelled Chateau Ste Michelle and Associated Vintners to the forefront of Washington's premium wine industry. Grenache was one of the first Vitis vinifera grapes successfully fermented into wine, with a 1966 Yakima Valley rosé being noted by Leon Adams in his book The Wines of America. The 1970s saw an expansion of vineyards in key areas like the Columbia Gorge, Walla Walla, and Red Mountain.