Is Columbia Crest Grand Estates Cabernet good?
Yes, Columbia Crest Grand Estates Cabernet is one of the best-value Cabernets in the grocery store: balanced, dark-fruited and honest for about $12.
Columbia Crest Grand Estates Cabernet Sauvignon · Cabernet Sauvignon · Washington State · most grocery stores
- Alcohol
- About 13.5% to 14.5%, depending on the year
- Sweetness
- Dry
- Grapes
- Mostly Cabernet Sauvignon, with a little Merlot and Syrah
- Made by
- Columbia Crest, part of Ste. Michelle Wine Estates
- From
- Washington State (winery in the Horse Heaven Hills)
- Price
- About $10 to $13
- Calories
- About 125 to 135 in a 5 oz glass (estimate)
What it tastes like
Black cherry, blackberry, a little mocha and toast. Medium-full with smooth grip, and it ends dry and clean.
- Bodylight → big
- Sweetnessdry → sweet
- Zingsoft → zippy
- Gripsmooth → grippy
Is it worth $12?
Very much so. It tastes like actual Cabernet rather than a sweetened red blend, and it costs less than Josh. Buy it by the case for parties.
Who it’s for
For anyone who wants a classic dry red without spending much, and for steak or burger night. If you prefer sweeter reds, it will taste a bit dry.
How to serve it
Serve slightly below room temperature. A quick 15 minutes open helps.
The backstory
Columbia Crest opened in 1983 in Paterson, a tiny town in eastern Washington's Horse Heaven Hills, and today it runs the biggest winemaking facility in the Pacific Northwest. Its parent, Ste. Michelle Wine Estates, was bought in late 2025 by the Wyckoff family, longtime Washington growers. Sunny days and cold desert nights give the Cab ripe fruit and fresh acidity, and around 17 months in oak adds the mocha.
How it compares
- Columbia Crest Cabernet vs 14 Hands Cabernet
14 Hands is from the same Washington company and a bit softer and fruitier; Columbia Crest has more structure, so pick it if you want a classic dry Cab.
- Columbia Crest Cabernet vs Josh Cabernet
Josh is rounder and a touch sweeter-tasting for a few dollars more, while Columbia Crest is drier and more honest Cabernet for less.
- Columbia Crest Cabernet vs Louis Martini Cabernet
Louis Martini is the step up when you want more depth and grip for a special dinner, at about $8 more.
What to eat with it
Questions people ask
- Who owns Columbia Crest winery?
- Ste. Michelle Wine Estates, which the Wyckoff family, a big Washington farming family, bought in December 2025. Before that it belonged to private equity firm Sycamore Partners.
- Where is Columbia Crest located?
- In Paterson, Washington, in the Horse Heaven Hills above the Columbia River, in the dry eastern half of the state. The winery has a tasting room if you are road-tripping through wine country.
- Is Columbia Crest Grand Estates Cabernet sweet?
- No, it is dry. It has ripe black cherry fruit and a little vanilla from oak, but it ends clean and dry, which is why steak lovers like it.
- What happened to Columbia Crest wine?
- Nothing bad: it is still made and sold everywhere. The news was about its parent company changing hands in 2025.
- Is Columbia Crest or Chateau Ste. Michelle better?
- They are sister wineries, and for Cabernet, Columbia Crest Grand Estates usually costs a few dollars less and holds its own. Chateau Ste. Michelle is better known for Riesling.
If you like this, try
- 14 Hands CabernetCabernet Sauvignon · about $11Good buy
- Josh CabernetCabernet Sauvignon · about $15Good buy
- Louis Martini CabernetCabernet Sauvignon · about $20Drink this one
Where Moxie recommends it
- What wine goes with prime rib?
- What wine goes with cheese?
- What's the best cheap wine?
- What is dry red wine?
- What is Cabernet Sauvignon?
- Pinot Noir vs Cabernet Sauvignon: what's the difference?
Last checked 2026-10-04. Moxie Vino isn’t affiliated with Columbia Crest; this is our honest take. Bottle photo: Columbia Crest (Ste. Michelle Wine Estates).