CWU Wine Club partners with Cairdeas Winery for spring shipment

The Central Washington University Wine Club continues to bring together education, community, and Washington wine through meaningful partnerships with CWU-affiliated wineries.

For the upcoming spring shipment, the CWU Wine Club is teaming up with Cairdeas Winery, a Lake Chelan-based producer with ties to the Wildcat community and a philosophy that mirrors the collaborative spirit of the university.

Founded by Lacey and Charlie Lybecker, Cairdeas Winery grew out of curiosity, farming roots, and a willingness to leap into something new. Lacey’s early experiences with agriculture growing up on a farm in northwestern Minnesota took on a new dimension when she discovered wine during her travels abroad.

“I had the opportunity to go on a farm exchange program to Australia when I was 17, and went back with a holiday work visa when I was 19,” Lacey shared. “I went on my first wine-tasting tour in the Yarra Valley and was so fascinated. It was farming, but so different from the farm I grew up on.”

After moving to Seattle, Lacey and Charlie found themselves spending weekends immersed in Washington wine country, from Woodinville to South Seattle’s artisan wineries. What began as a retirement dream quickly became something more immediate.

“Charlie was born with a curious personality, and he wanted to know everything about the process,” Lacey said. “He was dreaming about starting a winery when we retired, but I said, 'let’s start now.' We were 25 and 28 years old in West Seattle. We wanted to be out in wine country, fell in love with Lake Chelan, and moved here in 2012.”

That leap of faith led to Cairdeas becoming a respected name in Washington wine, and one with several CWU connections. Over the years, multiple CWU alumni have played key roles at the winery, helping shape its growth from the Lake Chelan area to the Seattle area.

“We have been so fortunate to have a handful of CWU alumni on our team over the years,” Lacey said.

She highlighted Charles Imperatori, who pursued his degree from CWU while working at Cairdeas and now works at Central, as well as Marketing Manager Elissa Garvey, a CWU graduate with a PR degree who also completed the Wine Studies program.

They have several other ties to Central, including former employees and spouses of current employees who are alumni, and children of current employees who attend the university.

Wine Studies Program Coordinator and Assistant Professor Jill Perillo Clark notes that Central’s one-of-a-kind learning experiences help contribute to why CWU graduates have had so much success working with Cairdeas. 

“The CWU Wine Studies program is the only wine program in Washington State that focuses entirely on the business and hospitality aspects of the wine industry,” Perillo Clark said. “The Wine Studies curriculum emphasizes wine sales, distribution, marketing, and hospitality management. Program offerings include a Bachelor of Science degree in Wine Industry Management, two minors, and three stackable certificates.”

Beyond alumni ties, Cairdeas stays closely connected to CWU through the academic side of the wine industry.

“Through our involvement with the Washington wine industry, specifically connecting at WineVit, we’ve gotten to know the wine studies faculty and students, sharing resources and hosting groups, and we’ll be hosting a group of staff and students this coming June,” Lacey said. “We love staying connected with the academic side of the industry and CWU is another touchpoint for us and our team.”

That shared commitment to education and hands-on learning makes Cairdeas a natural fit for the CWU Wine Club, which partners with CWU students in the Wine Studies program, to provide real-world experience in the business of wine.

CWU Wine Club members can look forward to receiving Cairdeas flagship wines in the spring shipment, thoughtfully selected to reflect the winery’s style and story.

“We’ll be sharing two of our Cairdeas classics or flagship wines,” Lacey said. “Our 2024 Nellie Mae is a blend of Viognier and Roussanne and named after Charlie’s Grandma Nellie, and the women in my family who share Mae as their middle name.”

Another wine that will be part of the shipment is their 2022 Trí, a GSM that is Syrah dominant with a lot of earth and spice. Lacey says it is perfect for backyard BBQs or winter bonfires.

To celebrate this new partnership and give Wildcats a chance to experience the wines firsthand, CWU alumni, friends, and supporters are invited to an in-person tasting event at the Cairdeas SODO tasting room in Seattle on February 21 from 6-8 p.m.

Attendees will be able to taste the wines included in the spring shipment, meet CWU Wine Studies students, connect with fellow Wildcats, and learn more about the CWU Wine Club and Cairdeas Winery.

For Lacey, the partnership reflects something bigger than a single shipment.

“What I love about this partnership is that we get to come together to celebrate Washington Wine,” she said. “We all support each other in this endeavor and we’re proud to be connected to CWU through our team and educational partnerships.”

Learn more about the CWU Wine Club and join today by visiting cwuwineclub.com.