![]() ![]() The Columbia Gorge AVA's position along the Columbia River Gorge makes it an ideal hub for. While most of the wine produced in the Walla Walla Valley is red, the vineyard elevations and soils vary, allowing white grapes to be grown here, too. There are wineries aplenty here, building the region’s reputation for high-quality wine. Stretching across the Washington-Oregon border is the Walla Walla Valley, located east of Horse Heaven Hills. Horse Heaven Hills is located south of Yakima Valley and runs down to the Oregon border, where it specializes in Bordeaux varieties, Riesling, and Chardonnay. ![]() Red Mountain is one of the state’s hottest regions, specializing in intense, concentrated red wines, while Rattlesnake Hills’ elevation allows for a mix of red and white wines, particularly Riesling. Yakima Valley is the state’s oldest AVA, growing a variety of grapes and encompassing three other important appellations: Red Mountain, Snipes Mountain (which is not often seen on wine labels), and Rattlesnake Hills. Because the appellation allows for blending across many smaller appellations, though, some remarkable values exist.Īmong these smaller appellations are the ones that have secured Washington as a top wine-producing state, rivaling lauded California regions like Napa and Sonoma. This is why the region makes common appearances on wine shelves, but it is also why Columbia Valley wines can be extremely variable vineyards located hundreds of miles apart, across different aspects and soils are likely to produce very different wines. ![]() Because all but two of Washington’s other appellations are located within the Columbia Valley, most of the state’s vintners can make wines labeled as such. Most of Washington’s wine is produced in the Columbia Valley, a broad AVA that covers a large swath of spread-out vineyards east of the Cascades. White grapes hold their own as well, from international varieties like Chardonnay, Riesling, and Pinot Gris to quirky options like Gewürztraminer and Grüner Veltliner. Bordeaux blends are common, but Syrah is gaining ground, intriguing winemakers and buyers alike for its intensity and complexity. While Merlot became an early Washington signature, highlighted for its balance of rich fruit and fine structure, Cabernet Sauvignon is the state’s most planted grape and is lauded by vintners. These conditions lend themselves well to bold red grapes – red wine production comprises nearly two-thirds of the state’s wine – like the key players of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah, as well as more experimental grapes like Malbec and Petit Verdot. (Only one winegrowing region is located in Western Washington: the cooler, wetter Puget Sound, which encompasses the land surrounding the body of water of the same name.) Sunshine abounds in Eastern Washington, easily ripening grapes and producing wines with full fruit flavors. Most of Washington’s vineyards are located east of the Cascades, where the mountains’ rain shadow creates a warm, dry climate. Unlike states that have chosen to specialize in just a few varieties, Washington grows dozens of grapes, so the state is more defined by variety than uniformity. A whopping 40% of the state’s vineyards were planted over the last decade alone, so winemakers are still experimenting with optimal grape varieties and vineyard sites. While grapes were first planted here in the early 1800s, and commercial plantings took off in the 1960s, Washington’s wine industry is still rapidly evolving. Understanding Washington wine isn’t difficult, per se, but capturing the state’s entire landscape of winemaking can seem daunting. Start with these Washington State wine essentials and let the journey continue from there. ![]() While the official, month-long holiday is drawing to a close, it’s really just a jumping-off point for exploring the country’s second-largest wine state. Though the myriad of wines produced in the state of Washington warrant attention all year long, Washington Wine Month is an excuse to dive deep into the state’s 14 AVAs – particularly for those who haven’t checked in with the state in awhile. Take, for instance, the annual celebration of Washington Wine Month in August. ![]()
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