Alex Golitzin is a nephew of André Tchelistcheff, one of the most influential winemakers of Napa Valley, and credits summer trips to visit his uncle in St. Helena, California with developing his early interest in wine.

With encouragement and advice from his uncle, Alex Golitzin began making one barrel of Cabernet Sauvignon a year as an amateur winemaker from 1974 through 1977.

Encouraged by Tchelistcheff's assessment of the results, the family opened the commercial winery in Snohomish in 1978 and produced their first vintage of Cabernet Sauvignon in 1979.

Quilceda Creek Winery Cabernet Sauvignon has earned some of the highest reviews and awards of any wine produced in the United States.

[9] Located on 11 acres (4.5 ha) in the town of Snohomish, the winery has 15,000 square feet (1,390 m2) of space for fermentation and barrel aging.