As the founding winemaker and a partner at DeLille Cellars since 1992, Chris Upchurch has crafted some of the finest and most award-winning wines in Washington State. He is the only winemaker to produce two Washington State brands to receive five stars (outstanding) in Robert Parker’s Wine Buyers Guide, for both DeLille Cellars and Doyenne.

Chris and his wife Thea founded Upchurch Vineyard in 2010. His Upchurch wines have garnered much praise and recognition from the start, Upchurch Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon has received 95, 93, 96, 96, and 95 point scores for its first five vintages respectfully from Jeb Dunnuck of the Wine Advocate and was featured in the March 2017 issue of the Wine Spectator. Upchurch has also received numerous local, state and regional awards.


Chris’ love for wine began in his youth with extensive travel throughout the Grand Cru wine-growing regions of Europe and the west coast of the U.S. After graduating from the University of Washington in 1976, Chris began his career as a wine buyer and developed a successful grape-brokerage business, contracting grapes from Washington State and selling them to winemakers. Chris knew he had uncovered his true calling once he started spending endless hours in the vineyards. Chris has been an acclaimed winemaker in Washington State for nearly 3 decades.