Washington State's AVA's
( American Viticultural Areas )
Horse Heaven Hills
Yakima Valley
Walla Walla Valley
Columbia Valley
Puget Sound
Red Mountain

Horse Heaven Hills -Established on August 5th, 2005 Horse Heaven Hills AVA is one of Washington's newest AVA's.  This AVA has several unique traits that produce superior wine grapes. It is bounded on the South by the Columbia River, has ideal south-facing slopes, warm temperatures that allow for ripe grapes and early harvest, and low rainfall, which gives total control of watering to the grape grower. Currently there are nearly 8000 acres in wine grape production accounting for roughly 30% of Washington State wine grape production.

 

Yakima Valley -  was established  in 1983. It has more than 40 wineries and over 10,000 acres in production (about one third of Washington's vineyards). The soils are composed prdominately of silt-loam. It has around 190 growing days a year and receives approximately 8" of rainfall annually

 

Walla Walla Valley - established in 1984. It has more than 40 wineries and approximately 1000 acres in production. The soils are essentially a loess of  unconsolidated, unstratified calcareous silt. It has a growing season of 190 to 220 days a year and receives approximately 12.5 inches of rainfall annually.

 

Columbia Valley  - established in 1984 and is Washington's largest viticultural region, covering almost 11 million acres and contains several distinct microclimates, several of which are seeking indiviual AVA status. It has approximately 15 wineries and approximately 17000 acres in production. It has many soil types with growing seasons of 180~200 days a year and receives 6 to 8 inches of rainfall annually. Columbia Valley contains Red Mountain and both the Yakima and Walla Walla Valleys within its borders.

 

Puget Sound - established 1995 and having only around 80 acres in production with approximately 35 wineries. It has a temperate climate that rarely experiences freezes and has mild summers. The core of this appellation has a growing season that is drier and sunnier than many classic wine grape growing regions in Europe. It's soil consists of a semi-permeable cemented subsoil allowing the deep-rooted vinifera vines to survive late summer water deficit. Annual rainfall is around 15 inches mostly falling in the winter during dormancy. It's growing season is approximately 180 days. Madeleine Angevine, Siegerebbe and Muller-Thurgau are the predominant varietals. Pinot Gris and Pinot Noir also show promise in this appellation.

 

Red Mountain - established in 2001 currently has fewer that 10 wineries. Only 4,040 acres in size, between Benton City and Richland it only has aproximately 710 vineyard acres planted. A combination of good air, drainage and light soils encourages deep rooting of the grape vines. The growing season averages 180 days with rainfall from 6 to 8 inches annually. Red Mountain is located within the larger Yakima Valley, at its easternmost tip.

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