Lisa Callan of Callan Cellars
In 2009, Lisa Callan had spent years as a court clerk, real estate agent and mother of three. With the real estate market in steep decline, she was looking for a new career. Her brother-in-law signed her up for WSU’s Enology Program without telling her, because he thought she had a great palate. When she eventually got a call in 2010 letting her know she had a place in the program, she decided to take the plunge and accept. She first started making her own wines at home, but by 2016 things had gotten too far out of control to continue in the garage. A family meeting in the hot tub led to her opening her own winery and tasting room space, first in Woodinville in 2017 and then in Lake in Lake Chelan in 2022. The Callan Cellars Woodinville facility is decorated warehouse space, while the Lake Chelan property is stunningly beautiful tasting space looking out on Lake Chelan with a garden and vineyard nearby. The beautiful stone for the tasting room and vacation rental comes from the 1930s blasting for the Knapps Hill Tunnel on the Alt 97a Highway between Wenatchee and Lake Chelan.
Lisa’s wines won awards the first year she was licensed, and that helped her gain entrée into some of the finest vineyards in the Yakima Valley AVA. Her wines have continued to garner impressive awards, including a handful of Double Platinums. She is known for making outstanding Rhone and Bordeaux style red wines, and whites with grape varieties not often seen in Washington. For example, her largest production wine is Grenache Blanc, her everyday drinking wine. She also makes a Picpoul that is an ideal seafood wine and a favorite with club members. The first Callan Cellars Lake Chelan AVA wine was released this year—a Rosé of Pinot Noir. Lisa also makes a Rosé of Cinsaut and Grenache, both wines bone dry and delightfully refreshing. Callan Cellars is definitely a winery to watch and to visit, as more stellar wines are sure to come!!
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