Chateau Faire Le Pont

"Faire le pont" is a French phrase that means "bridging the gap." It describes when a holiday falls mid-week and you are having such a great time that you decide to extend it through the weekend. Such an extended holiday may be made even more enjoyable with a sampling of fine Chateau Faire Le Pont wine.

Bridging the Gap

The winery's managing partners, Deb and Doug Brazil, had always dreamed of owning a winery. When opportunity knocked, they left their corporate jobs and pursued their passion, opening the winery to the public in 2003. Having grown up in French-speaking Montreal, Debe' suggested the winery's name, also taking the lead in their marketing efforts.

As winemaker, Doug has made wine professionally for Chateau Faire Le Pont for six years. He studied in Europe during his travels in the Navy and made wine at home for several years prior to starting the winery.

Doug places great importance on details and quality. He works in the cellar using his senses as his barometer for winemaking decisions, often experimenting in small lot trials. His stated goal is to create wines that are approachable in their youth, yet age beneficially for ten to fifteen years.

Fruit of the Vine

Chateau Faire le Pont is located in a renovated 1920's brick warehouse that was formerly used for staging fruit to be loaded onto trains. The warehouse's expansive windows frame a panorama of mountain views. On the grounds are many picturesque spots to sip their wines in all seasons. While the eighteen-foot see-through fireplace is the place to relax in winter, the large outdoor decks and gazebo are ideal on clear summer days. A waterfall with a bridge is located in the vineyard, reminding visitors to "bridge the gap" and enjoy themselves.

The educational vineyard lines the entrance to the winery, showcasing different varieties of grapes. The winery's "adopt-a-vine" program instructs through hands-on experiences from learning how to prune the vines to harvesting and crushing the grapes, to producing and bottling wine.

Chateau Faire Le Pont has received several awards, including second best Syrah in the state for their 2004 Syrah. However, Doug is most proud of their Confluence wine. It was made for his wife Debe' in the style she most enjoys—and it placed fourth in the state in a blind tasting by CEO Magazine for all Bordeaux Style wines in the state.

Choose Your Tour

Visitors may appreciate the many tasting options: basic, reserve, barrel tastings, among others. Picnic lunch and dinner tasting packages encourage visitors to explore the flavors as they pair with food. In fact, Chateau Faire Le Pont wines are served at Woodinville's famous Barking Frog restaurant, where they've been described as "Remarkable wines, very consistent."

For dining while on site at the winery, visitors may stop by the Vineyard Café, which is designed with a Mediterranean feel. Lunch and dinner are served in the restaurant's elegant old world brick room built in 1920. Live jazz on Thursday evenings is an excellent accompaniment to their Gorgonzola filet mignon—and a glass of Chateau Faire Le Pont wine.