Mike Wade

Mike Wade, co-founder and head winemaker of Fielding Hills Winery, brings a legacy of farming and a passion for quality wine to every vintage. With deep roots in Washington agriculture, Mike transitioned from apple and cherry orchards to viticulture in the late 1990s, planting his first vineyard in 1998. His approach to winemaking is driven by a belief in minimal intervention—letting the fruit, site, and vintage speak for themselves. A hands-on winemaker, Mike oversees every step from vineyard to bottle, working closely with his team to craft bold, expressive red wines that reflect the rugged beauty of the Chelan and Wahluke Slope AVAs. His dedication has led Fielding Hills to be recognized as one of the top producers in Washington State.

The Lake Chelan AVA, established in 2009 as a sub-AVA of the Columbia Valley, is a premier wine-growing region in north-central Washington, centered around the 50.5-mile-long, glacially-carved Lake Chelan. With a unique microclimate influenced by the lake's moderating effects, volcanic soil composition, and elevations ranging from 1,100 to 2,000 feet, the AVA provides ideal conditions for growing premium grape varietals such as Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Riesling, and Syrah. The combination of warm days, cool nights, and mineral-rich soils results in wines known for their bright acidity, rich aromatics, and distinctive fruit-forward character.