Washington
Like Oregon, Washington was late getting into the wine business. Washington's two largest wineries — Columbia Winery and Château Ste. Michelle — planted the first commercial-scale vineyards in the 1960s, but it wasn't until the 1980s that growth really exploded. Today Washington has close to 600 wineries, second only to California. It also has the second highest grape crop and the second highest level of wine production.
Washington shares the Cascade Mountains with Oregon, and this range divides the state into two very different climatic regions. West of the mountain range, the climate is cool with plenty of rain and vegetation. To the east of the mountains, the land is practically a desert, with hot, dry summers and cold winters. Ninety-eight percent of the state's grapes grow east of the Cascades.
Washington beats California in terms of summer sun: It enjoys two more hours of summer sunlight each day than in California regions, without the accompanying heat. Grapes just love it. The cool autumn temperatures help the grapes maintain desirable acid levels as they reach maturity.
Wine RegionsWashington's five most elite AVAs are in the arid east, where irrigation has made commercial vine growing possible. Washington has a total of eleven AVAs.
The Yakima Valley is Washington's very first AVA, and it now has more than forty wineries. The most widely planted grapes are Chardonnay, followed by Merlot and Cabernet and significant acreage of Riesling and Syrah.
The Columbia Valley is one of the largest AVAs in the United States. It represents a full third of Washington's landmass. Merlot dominates, followed by Cabernet, Chardonnay, Riesling, and Syrah.
The Walla Walla Valley AVA is shared with Oregon. The region has more than fifty-five wineries and produces Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay, Syrah, Gewürztraminer, and Cabernet Franc.
The Red Mountain AVA is at the east end of the Yakima Valley. It's known for its red varietals: Cabernet, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Syrah, and Sangiovese.
The Columbia Gorge AVA was established in 2004 and is also shared with Oregon. It produces Chardonnay, Gewürztraminer, Riesling, and Pinot Gris.
The Puget Sound AVA is near Seattle. It has eighty vineyard acres of
Most of Washington's wineries are quite small, and their wines difficult to find. Ste. Michelle Wine Estates produces about half of all Washington's wines. The company's labels include Columbia Crest, Snoqualmie, Northstar, Eroica, and Col Solare — a joint venture with Italy's Antinori.
