Washington Wineries & Wine Regions

Columbia Valley Wineries,
Wine Region and Wine

    Encompassing approximately 18,000 square miles and 11 million acres, the Columbia Valley Appellation is 185 miles wide and 200 miles long, sprawling across nearly half of Washington State.  Washington's first AVA, the Yakima Valley, was authorized just one year earlier than the Columbia Valley (authorized in 1984), and the latter fully encompassed the former.  Also in 1984, the Walla Walla Valley was authorized as a distinct growing region entirely within the boundaries of the Columbia Valley AVA.

        Today, the Columbia Valley has been subdivided into even more distinct regions as variations in climate and soil became clear within the boundaries of the Columbia Valley AVA; recently three more appellations were recognized and authorized, including Horse Heaven Hills in 2005, the Rattlesnake Hills and the Wahluke Slope in 2006.  Also within the Columbia Valley region is Washington's Ancient Lakes area (Central Washington); growers and winemakers in this area are currently preparing an application to secure American Viticultural Area status for the area.

        The Columbia Valley's northernmost boundary is near the Okanogan wilderness, bordering Canada, and its southern border extends into Oregon and east along the Snake River to the Idaho border.  The western border of the appellation follows the Cascade Range to the beginning of the  Columbia Gorge AVA.

Navigating the Columbia Valley Appellation

    Wines Northwest organizes wine-touring information for the Columbia Valley wineries into several chapters: the Columbia Valley, Tri-Cities area and Columbia Valley Central; the Yakima Valley, Red Mountain and Rattlesnake Hills touring information is grouped together (with associated maps), while information about the Walla Walla Valley, Horse Heaven Hills and the Wahluke Slope is organized by individual sections. 

Tri-Cities Area (South Columbia Valley)

     The southern portion of the Columbia Valley has a larger population than does the portion to the north. There are, therefore, enough people in the Tri-Cities area of Washington to adequately support 14 nearby wineries, and ample amenities to serve tourists coming to the area for enjoyment of the dry climate and the wine touring opportunities.

     Most of the wineries are clustered around the "Tri-Cities" of Pasco, Richland and Kennewick.  Only two wineries in the north Columbia Valley remain open to the public, both pleasant stops in route to the Spokane region.  Some Columbia Valley wineries have regular hours for their tasting rooms; a few conduct tastings by appointment only; some have no tasting rooms at all.  Wine country travelers can base themselves in any of the Tri-Cities and easily tour the wineries of this area.

     Use the map to locate and explore wineries you would like to visit. (Only those open to the public are shown.)   Don't forget to check the links in the left margin to consider lodging and dining opportunities.  For a more complete, alphabetical list of wineries, wine shops and wine-related services, check the Washington State list in the Winery and Merchant Finder.

Wine Shops & Wine Bars                       Real Estate     

Tri-Cities Wineries & Touring Map
Red Mountain Appellation
(South Columbia Valley)

North Central Columbia Valley Wineries & Touring Map

Click here for information and touring suggestions
for this area.