Taylor Butterfield is the White Winemaker at Chateau Ste. Michelle and a proud Eastern Washington native. After earning a Biology degree from Seattle University, she launched her winemaking career with a lab internship at The Hogue Cellars. Over a decade there, she advanced to overseeing white wine production for Constellation Brands and E&J Gallo, later serving as a Blend Supply Analyst.
Taylor joined Chateau Ste. Michelle in 2023, where she focuses on crafting balanced, food-friendly white wines. Passionate about both wine and community, she values the friendships built throughout her career. She lives in Washington with her husband, Tristan—Assistant Red Winemaker at Chateau Ste. Michelle—and their two children. Her favorite wines to make and enjoy are Sauvignon Blanc and Dry Riesling.
Media Inquiries: katie.jaeger@smwe.com | https://www.eroicawine.com/
What’s the ONE THING most unique, authentic, & memorable about your brand?
Eroica is a unique collaboration between two wine world legends: Chateau Ste. Michelle, the oldest and most acclaimed winery in Washington State, and Ernst Loosen, one of Germany’s most respected Riesling producers from the Mosel region. The partnership began back in 1999 with the goal to create a Riesling that balances the bright fruit and natural acidity of Washington’s Columbia Valley with the minerality and structure of the German-style Rieslings. Eroica has truly defined high-end American Riesling, receiving 90 points or higher from top wine publications. I remember drinking Eroica Riesling when I first began my winemaking career and being inspired. I’m beyond thrilled to now be a part of the team who gets to work with Ernst to create such an amazing wine.
Describe how and what you’d do with your winemaking career or winery business if you were not constrained.
I wish I had the opportunity to allow more white wines to rest on their fermentation lees for a longer duration. Extending the time white wines spend on their lees can yield numerous advantages, including the preservation of aromatics, as well as the enhancement of texture and complexity. I am sometimes able to do this during the harvest season; however, logistical challenges such as tank space for fermentation and often needing to bottle aromatic white wines shortly after harvest concludes. I guess I need more small tanks and time!
What is the One Wine most emblematic of your brand and/or winemaking style? Tell us its story.
Chateau Ste. Michelle has championed Riesling for more than 45 years and was among the first to plant Riesling in Washington State. We offer a diverse and highly acclaimed portfolio of Riesling wines, ranging from crisp and dry to lusciously sweet. It’s fun as a winemaker to take the same grape varietal and make multiple wines that taste completely different. You don’t see that with every grape varietal, which makes it unique. It’s all about Riesling for Taylor and Chateau Ste. Michelle. Have you had the 2023 Eroica Riesling?
Bonus Question: What’s the one thing people would be surprised to learn about you?
I had the opportunity to compete in collegiate soccer at Seattle University, a goal I had set my sights on since childhood. Growing up in Yakima, WA, I dedicated myself to reaching the Division I collegiate level, even if it meant making the 4.5-hour round trip drive to Seattle for club soccer practices during my high school years. I could not have done this without my amazing parents! Playing collegiate soccer and studying Biology was a challenge. On numerous occasions, I found myself dashing from soccer practice to class, and then seamlessly transitioning into multi-hour laboratory sessions, all the while still wearing my soccer practice uniform.