Sipping handcrafted wines at Chateau Faire Le Pont is just one of countless excuses to linger and extend a stay in Wenatchee, Wash.
Click here to view the article as it appeared in the Spring 2012 issue.
Thought they might shy away from being labeled as a dynamic duo, Debé and Doug Brazil of Chateau Faire Le Pont Winery have undeniably created an oasis on the edge of a vineyard-lined business park in Wenatchee. They have diligently taken every advantage of the 16,000-square-foot winery—a 1920’s fruit packing warehouse the couple saved from demolition—and created an elegant venue that revolves around wine, food, music, celebrations and friendships.
“We thought we were lost,” a couple from Kirkland, WA, says. “But then we got here and it was like we were completely transported to Bordeaux.” They stand on the patio, wine in hand, waiting to play a round of bocce ball.
“We had been looking at property in Chelan,” Debé recalls. “Then we were shown this building, which was just two weeks away from being torn down.”
The brick had been covered with layers of gray paint typical of the era, and because the building couldn’t be sandblasted without destroying it, Debé hired an artist to hand paint the brick to restore it to its original color. Expansive windows provide views of the Cascades, Clockum and Mission Ridge.
A tailored but comfortable seating area next to the massive floor-to-ceiling see-through fireplace divides the tasting area from the winery’s event space, which on any given day serves host to wedding guests, winemaker dinners, company parties, you name it.
In the barrel room downstairs, murals depicting wines aged in French oak have been painted on the formidable exposed beams. At the far end is the wine library, which has been purposely left open so that guests feel like they are part of the action. A table nearly the length of the room is lined with candles and lit above by impressive crystal chandeliers, making it the perfect spot for a special dinner.
BRIDGING THE GAP
The meaning of the name is more festive than fussy. Debé, from Montreal, speaks French fluently, and explains that “faire le pont” literally means “bridging the gap.” It’s used when someone wants to extend their stay, or linger a while. “If a holiday falls mid-week, like a Wednesday or Thursday, and everyone is having a good time, ‘faire le pont!’—extend it through the weekend.”
Debé and Doug have created countless ways to stay a while. Chateau Faire Le Pont is the only winery in Wenatchee that is open seven days a week. Debé is committed to growing the local wine touring region, and it’s evident in the winery’s lineup of regular events. Here, would-be vintners can become “winemaker for a day” in a hands-on session that teaches the art of blending wine. Or you can adopt your own vine in the educational vineyard and learn to prune, harvest, crush grapes, and bottle your own wine.
When other wineries are winding down for the day, Chateau Faire Le Pont is a hub of activity. Weekly events include live jazz night, ladies night, and more. Visit their website for a complete list of events.
Though she credits her staff for the winery’s success, Debé is the consummate host. She is involved in every capacity, from event planning, pouring wine flights, even checking on guest tables at the winery’s restaurant (Chateau Cajun Grill) which serves lunch and dinner Tuesday through Saturday.
Another draw to this destination winery is that you won’t find Chateau Faire Le Pont wines sold outside the tasting room. “We come here specifically because we love the wines and won’t find them on grocery store shelves,” says a couple visiting from Bellevue, WA.
“Wine is an experience,” Debé emphasizes. “When the wines are on a shelf, you don’t have a sense of where they came from.”
WINE AT EVERY PORT
Debé and Doug relocated to Mukilteo from the East, where Doug had a demanding career as a Navy helicopter pilot and Debé was on the corporate fast track—a world away from their Wenatchee wonderland.
“It rained for 103 days straight,” Debé recalls of their move to Mukilteo. So the couple moved again, this time to Wenatchee.
“My epiphany was at a reception at the US Ambassador’s residence in Chile,” Doug recalls. “I had drank wine in the past, but apparently I had never had really good red wine.”
The next day, Doug found the winery, met the winemaker and took a tour. “He didn’t speak English and I didn’t speak Spanish, but he recognized my enthusiasm and did a barrel tasting with me. I was hooked.”
Doug’s intensity and focus as a helicopter pilot was channeled into his new passion. He started reading about wine, tasting wine, collecting wine, cooking with it, making it at home, joined wine clubs, toured wineries…nothing about wine was left unearthed.
Fortunately, there was wine at every port. “Whenever the ship I was on pulled in to places like Italy, Greece, France or Spain, I sought out wineries and wine shops.”
Debé was already into wine, and the couple spent all their vacations at wine destinations. “One day, at a particularly quaint winery, we both agreed ‘wouldn’t this be the life?’” When Doug retired from the Navy in 2002,
it was now or never.
As fate would have it, Debé met Carol Clarke, and told her about their desire to start a winery. Carol said, “You have to meet my husband.” Her husband turned out to be Stan Clarke, a 30-year veteran and legendary figure in the Washington wine industry.
“The late Stan Clarke was one of the most generous and unselfish people I’ve met in the wine industry,” Doug says. “Stan spent days walking vineyards with me telling me why I wanted ‘these’ grapes but not ‘those.’”
Doug credits Stan for lining up contracts with growers that he may not have had access to, most notably Steve Elerding and Dick Boushey. Elerding is still the main source for his Cab and other Bordeaux varietals.
LIKE LANDING A HELICOPTER
Though unassuming and easy going, Doug admits when it comes to his winemaking, “The attention to detail I developed landing helicopters on the back of moving ships in the middle of the night has served me well. We don’t skip any steps.”
With a total production of 3,500 cases, Doug is able to have complete control without hiring extensive staff. “Doug has his hand on every bottle, from start to finish,” Debé emphasizes. “He has the feel for making wine—it’s something that can’t be taught.”
Doug’s red wines are bold, and wildly popular, like his Confluence, a Bordeaux style blend named for the winery’s enviable location adjacent to Confluence State Park on the Columbia River.
“Taking two or more quality wines and creating something unique and better than the component parts is a very satisfying experience,” says Doug, talking about the blending process.
Doug credits Debé as the biggest influence on his winemaking style. “She has one of the best palates I’ve ever encountered. I know that if I can get a wine to appeal to her, we have something special.”
Is it still the life they dreamed of? “We’ve never worked harder,” Doug admits.
“They should have beds here,” quips tasting room employee Annie Rinehart.
But, Doug finishes, “It’s tough to complain when you’re doing what you love.”
Written by Kirsten Telander
Visit Chateau Faire Le Pont
1 Vineyard Way, Wenatchee WA
Open 7 days a week
Ph: 509-667-WINE
www.fairelepont.com
Extend your stay
Coast Center Wenatchee Hotel
Ph: 509-662-1234
North Central Washington Wineries
www.ncwwine.org
Lodging, dining & visitor info
www.wenatcheevalley.org