Explore the region & wines of Washington State
Say the Pacific Northwest and what likely springs to mind are ocean winds, overcast skies, and wet weather. After all, Seattle and its residents suffer from what seems like a ceaseless drizzle. That drizzling and damp environment can spell disaster for vines and be a nightmare for vignerons and viticulturists. Yet Seattle is on Washington’s coast, and east of the city is a vast state with swaths of land planted with vines. In fact, Washington state is a powerhouse producer of world class cabernet sauvignons as well as serious value wines - thanks largely to the Olympic and Cascade Mountain ranges that shield everything east of them from Seattle's ceaseless drizzle, leaving clear skies and sunshine in their rain shadow.
Washington’s vineyards, being so far north, enjoy at the height of the growing season up to two more hours of sunshine than California’s Napa Valley. And like the Napa Valley, Washington state and its vineyards see a dramatic daily shift in temperature, where nighttime temperatures can be as much as 45℉ less than daytime temperatures. In turn, those cool, often rain-free and sun-drenched conditions encourage the formation of ripe and healthy berries ready for an autumn harvest relatively free of the blights and the anxieties that European viticulturists often suffer. Such berries in turn provide stunning wines with great intensity, vibrancy, and purity of flavors.
As said above, Washington is a vast state with swaths of land and vineyards that see varying climatic conditions, topographical differences, and a diversity of soil types. The sheer diversity inevitably spurred proprietors and growers to divide the state into delimited and designated areas, leading to the 20 AVAs listed below.
Most Commonly Found on our Shelves:
Columbia Valley
Covering more than a quarter of the surface area of the state, the Columbia Valley AVA is by far Washington’s largest growing region. The Columbia Valley AVA lies in the rain shadow of the Cascade Mountain range, rendering the region a veritable desert. Fortunately for viticulturists, the Columbia River cuts through the valley, allowing them to irrigate when necessary. This combination of sunny, warm, dry conditions and ready accessibility to water for irrigation give growers an enviably high degree of control, leading to high-quality wine with little vintage variation.
Horse Heaven Hills
The Horse Heaven Hills AVA is among the state’s warmer wine regions, with many vineyards planted on south-facing slopes that enjoy extensive sun exposure as well as a windy setting. Those advantageous conditions lead to smaller canopy sizes, and tiny yet ripe berries free of blight and dense with flavor.
Red Mountain
Red Mountain’s name is somewhat of a misnomer - it is neither red nor mountainous. But it is elevated and one of the state’s warmest AVAs, with southwest facing slopes that face the warm midday and afternoon sun. It also sees a dramatic diurnal swing. The nearby Yakima River moderates temperatures and provides continual airflow. All of this in turn yields small, flavorful, thick-skinned berries with ripe tannins and refreshing acidity. Cabernet sauvignon vines do especially well here.
Yakima Valley
The Yakima Valley AVA is Washington’s oldest AVA. It enjoys a diverse climate, with a mixture of cooler and warmer areas, allowing for a broad assortment of varietals and styles. It is one of the few Washington AVAs where more white varietals are planted than red varietals.
Walla Walla Valley
The Walla Walla Valley AVA is home to a selection of Washington’s oldest wineries and has the highest concentration of wineries in the state. The valley sees a diversity of climates and soil types. Grape production is dominated by red wine varietals.
Wahluke Slope
The entire appellation rests on an alluvial fan that has a uniform soil type and a constant, gentle grade, with elevations varying from 425 feet above sea level by the Columbia River (its western boundary) to 1480 feet as the appellation climbs eastward. Winds in the area and its fast-draining soils lead to smaller berries with concentrated flavors. As one of the warmest regions in the state, the Wahluke Slope AVA is well-suited for red wine varietals.
Other AVAs include:
Ancients Lakes
Wholly contained within the Columbia Valley AVA, the Ancient Lakes AVA is one of the states more northerly appellations. Because of its location, the AVA sees less heat and larger diurnal swings, making it an ideal climate for white varietals.
The Burn of Columbia Valley
Located in south-central Washington, the triangle-shaped AVA is wholly contained within the larger Columbia Valley AVA. Its heavy and cool soils, slow-warming climate, and (thanks to its proximity to the Columbia Gorge) windy environs make it a warm appellation that in some respects acts like a cooler one.
Candy Mountain
The Candy Mountain AVA is one of Washington’s newest AVAs as well as its smallest. It’s wholly contained within the Yakima Valley AVA, which itself is part of the Columbia Valley AVA. Candy Mountain vineyards are rooted upon the southwestern side of the mountain, with an aspect that sees the warmer late-morning/mid-day/afternoon sun, making it one of the state’s warmest climates - perfect for red wine varietals.
Columbia Gorge
Established in 2004, the Columbia Gorge AVA is Washington’s most western AVA east of the Cascades. The AVA’s westernmost section can see as much as 36 inches of rain on any given year, making it suitable for cool climate varietals. Its easternmost section can see as little as 10 inches, ideal for warm weather varietals.
Goose Cap
The appellation’s name refers to a pathway for migratory waterfowl flying between Goose Mountain to the west and Badger and Candy Mountains to the east. Most vineyards are planted on north-northeastern slopes, and normally see a later harvest compared to counterparts in neighboring appellations.
Lake Chelan
Like most of the state’s wine regions, the Lake Chelan AVA is a sub-appellation of the larger Columbia Valley AVA. Due to its northern location and to its propinquity to the tourist-popular Lake Chelan, the AVA enjoys a cool setting, with cooler summer days and warmer summer nights - conditions ideal for cool climate varietals.
Lewis-Clark Valley
Straddling the Washington-Idaho border, the Lewis-Clark Valley AVA is one of two eastern Washington appellations located outside of the Columbia Valley. The wine region is a steep V-shaped valley that allows good drainage, provides excellent frost protection, and encourages cool nighttime temperatures. These conditions yield wines with ripe yet vibrant fruit flavors.
Naches Heights
A sub-appellation of the Columbia Valley, Naches Heights is northwest of Yakima and situated between two small towns, Naches and Tieton. It is more elevated than its surrounding neighbors, and from southeast to northwest slopes gently upwards. Cool air drains along that slope, thereby reducing the risk of frost damage.
Puget Sound
Named after Washington state’s Pacific inlet that stretches alongside the region, the Puget Sound AVA is the only Washington wine region located west of the Cascade Mountains. Due to its location, the AVA sees a temperate, maritime climate in contrast to the semi-arid Continental climate that other wine regions east of the Cascades see. It is the state’s coolest and wettest wine region, where cool climate varietals dominate.
Rattlesnake Hills
An elevated sub-appellation of the Yakima Valley, the AVA is named after the east-west trending Rattlesnake Hills. Its heightened elevations leave its vineyards less at risk of spring and fall frosts, which can threaten vines. And the wine region sees warmer winters, limiting the danger of hard freezes. These advantages allow for the cultivation of both red and white wine varietals.
Rocky Reach
Located south of Lake Chelan and straddling the Columbia River, the Rocky Reach AVA is located on a deep canyon carved out by the river. Because of its lower elevation, the AVA is warm, made even warmer by its cobblestone and gravel soils, which absorb and radiate heat. All of this leads to a longer growing season and ripe fruit for harvest.
Royal Slope
The Royal Slope AVA is a south-facing slope, ranging from 610 feet above sea level in the southeast corner to 1756 feet at the top of the Frenchmen Hills ridge. The higher elevations delay ripening, extend the growing season, and encourage the formation of bright, fresh, floral fruit notes and a broad range of flavors.
Snipes Mountain
Home to some of the state’s oldest vines, the Snipes Mountain AVA is more elevated than its surrounding area, with steep north and south-facing slopes that encourage frigid air to flow downhill, leaving a warm setting for any vines. Those slopes also provide for varied aspects with better sun exposures.
White Bluffs
Located in south-central Washington, the White Bluffs AVA lies on a plateau that is on average 200 feet above the surrounding area. The higher elevation in turn extends the growing season relative to the surrounding area and encourages heavy cool air to flow downward, thereby protecting vines rooted upon the plateau from frosts and freezes.
