Epic views of the glacial waters of Lake Chelan are abundant from Silver Bell’s sleek tasting room that opened in the summer of 2021. The modern winery facility on six beautiful acres is the result of four years of sweat equity, constructed by hand literally from the ground up by entrepreneurial owners Alan and Diane Holtzheimer. “We built the current winery ourselves with the help of Alan’s father, our son, and many friends,” comments Diane.
Accustomed to tough work, the Holtzheimers owned a towing company prior to the winery in the Burlington area north of Seattle for 17 years before switching gears. Seeking a business that could utilize both Alan’s scientific mind and allow Diane’s creativity and hospitality side to really shine, the couple started making wine in 2008 and eventually founded Silver Bell.
In 2010, they opened a tasting room in another waterfront hamlet—La Conner. Little did they guess at the time their winery enterprise was just getting started. “While still living in Burlington we purchased an amazing six-acre parcel of land in Manson. Surprisingly, both myself and Diane were able to land jobs in early 2017, so we closed our La Conner Tasting Room, sold our home, and moved with no plans other than to get to Chelan.”
Alan’s winemaking style has evolved over time to predominantly Bordeaux varietal grapes. “Although we will continue to branch out and make other varietals such as Viognier, Chardonnay, Syrah and Petite Syrah, just to name a few,” he adds. The Holtzheimers’ son Zach is hands-on fulltime at the winery. “We hope to pass the torch someday to our son, Zach, keeping this a family winery for future generations,” Alan says.
Fans of smooth, balanced Bordeaux red blends will appreciate the latest releases from this mature-yet-reinvented winery that offer strong indications this will be a winery to watch.
Visit the tasting room in Manson at 21 Veroske Rd, Manson or learn more at www.silverbellwinery.com.
Below are three releases we recently reviewed:
Silver Bell Winery Aubaine
91 pts.
This Cabernet-forward red wine hums with fresh, energetic acidity and nimble tannins that converge with expressive bright raspberry, blueberry and pomegranate flavors. The elements gain nice depth toward the finish, flanked by mineral and spice character. Solidly crafted, with much to appreciate. $38
Silver Bell Winery Silhouette
91 pts.
Crushed rock and well-constructed cherry flavors take command of this Right Bank-style red, neatly layered with cocoa and vanilla bean. The smooth front arcs its way into an elegantly chiseled midpalate, boosted with firm, matted tannins and lasting notes of dried red currant and spice. $35
Silver Bell Winery Moxie
91 pts.
This smooth Bordeaux-style red blend is Cabernet Franc dominant, offering appealing herbaceous fruit and savory notes of blackberry, tart raspberry, chocolate and dried thyme. Spice and loam details evolve to a firm tannic finish. $35