Tsillan Cellars Winery was established in 2000 and opened its doors on May 1, 2004 with the introduction of world-class wines to the Chelan Valley Region. It is an Italian country retreat nestled on the gently sloping south shore of Lake Chelan providing breathtaking views of the lake and mountains, and offering guests an exceptional destination experience, unique to the entire country. Three cascading waterfalls form an amphitheater backdrop for the island stage. Natural stone bridges, natural slate terrazzo and walks, Tuscan stone columns, a 35 foot bell tower with a 650 lb. cast bronze bell, landscaped rockeries and gardens, and a grape arbor overlook Lake Chelan and the surrounding mountains.
Named after a 19th century explorer who, upon hearing the native word for the lake, charted it as Tsillan or “deep water,” Tsillan Cellars, pronounced “Chelan,” was designed and developed by Dr. Robert Jankelson to provide an unmatched venue to enjoy the Italian art of living enhanced by fine wines.
Producing an annual average of 8,500 to 9,000 cases of wine each year, Tsillan Cellars is the largest producing winery and largest estate vineyard in the Chelan Valley, and thus, is the crown jewel of the young and rapidly growing Lake Chelan wine tourism industry. The 135 acre estate is cultivated with attention to the finest viticulture techniques with an eye to producing award winning wines. A wide variety of premium wine grapes are presently planted on the estate including, Sangiovese, Syrah, Merlot, Malbec, Barbera, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cab Franc, and Grenache, Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio, Riesling and Gewürztraminer. If any variety does not meet the standards of our winemaker, it will not be bottled. Each block of grape vineyard is continually evaluated and those varietals that do not meet their high expectations will be replaced with those varieties proven to be most compatible with the land (terroir) and climate.
A new chapter
In July 2026, a group of local investors led by Ronan and Gillian Walsh purchased Tsillan Cellars. Dr. Bob remains with the estate as Founder and Ambassador.
“We are not coming in to change what Dr. Bob built,” said Ronan Walsh. “We are here to honor it, invest in it, and steward this land and this winery for generations to come.”