It’s an all too familiar story now in the wine industry – farmers turn to grapes which eventually leads to a winery. Mike and Laura Mrachek bring that story to the forefront in the great Wenatchee area – in fact, their team produces some of the best wines I’ve tasted from that area – they are an oasis of good wine in a valley that is starving for good wine.
The grounds at their Malaga tasting room look about as well manicured as a golf course and it has some of the best views of the valley you can find – the overall setting feels peaceful, I would love to see it in the late spring when things start to come into bloom and it isn’t quite too hot yet.
Located in Malaga, WA – just a bit south of Wenatchee, this winery produces around 4000 cases and overall it’s rather tasty vino – however, it’s the passion of the people behind it that make it pop.
Craig Mitrikul is a jedi of winemaking – he comes from a pedigree of having worked for Rosemount Estate in Australia, Chateau Ste. Michelle and with the famous Charlie Hoppes while at 3 Rivers winery in Walla Walla – additionally, he has his own label too called Crayelle Cellars.
His philosophy is “keep it simple” – don’t muck with the amazing fruit the winery’s estate vineyards bring in and you can taste that in his wines as they tend to do a good job of reflecting the terroir of the vineyards he uses.
St. Laurent has estate vineyards on the Wahluke Slope near the dinky town of Mattawa and also near the town of Quincy in the Ancient Lakes region.
Sarah Bagdon is their Sales Director as well as off-premise events coordinator and you will not likely find a more friendly gal in the entire wine business – her zesl for wine and life comes out as she warmly greets people. A Wenatchee native, Sarah knows the entire region like the back of her hand and provides a wealth of knowledge and insight to not only St. Laurent but also of the greater area at large. Truly an invaluable asset to Mike and Laura’s team.
Emily Mrachek (Daughter-in-law if Mike and Laura) handles the winery’s Project Manager social media, the company’s website as well as marketing collateral. She has a lot of spunk and is quite the firecracker – in a good way.
Nicole Winters is the events coordinator and tasting room manager – she’s there to ensure your experience at their Malaga tasting room is a memorable one.
The Wine:
Generally speaking, you’ll find St. Laurent wines to be fruit-forward but still maintain good acidity and tannin structure – their flagship wine, the La Boheme offers very nice complexity and provides a good sense of terroir.
Priced between $12-$42 per bottle with wines that are white, pink and red – there’s certainly a wine for most any palate.
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