Washington Wineries, Washington Wines and Washington Wine Regions

Winery &
Merchant
Finder

Wine Reviews

Wine News and Reviews

Newsletter Registration page link

lettalk.gif (951 bytes)

Washington Wineries, Wines
and Wine Country

In recent years, Washington's wine industry has become the fastest-growing agricultural sector in the state. The number of Washington wineries has increased 400% in the last decade, attracting two million annual visitors to Washington wine country and creating a two million dollar wine-tourism industry.

Located approximately on the same latitude (46ºN) as some of the great French wine regions of Bordeaux and Burgundy, Washington State wine country now includes 10 federally recognized American Viticultural Areas (AVAs), commonly known as appellations; three of them share territory with Oregon State.

Discover a land of
little-known wineries along Washington's
I-5 Corridor

The boutique wineries of Southwest Washington

Climates of individual Washington wine regions differ dramatically. Cross cut north to south by the Cascade Mountains, Washington State is more mild and lush to the west of this volcanically formed barrier than the lands to its east. In fact, the Puget Sound AVA/appellation is the only officially recognized wine region on the west side of the Cascades. Currently, only about 1% of the state's wine grapes are grown here, and just a hand full of Washington wineries produce wines from those grape. In this cool-climate viticultural area, eastbound marine air masses drift over the ridges of the Coast Range and flow toward the Cascade range. Clouds must rise to continue their eastward heading, and as they do, cooler air releases most moisture onboard; temperatures fall as elevation increases causing moisture to fall as rain or snow before the north-south barrier of the Cascade ridges is breached. Very little moisture reaches the east side of these towering mountains, which create what is known as a "rain shadow" effect to more than half of of Washington State.

The resulting arid climate, combined with the long daylight hours of the growing season, make the lands of eastern Washington prime for wine grapes. Canopies can be controlled by irrigation management, and grapes can fully ripen, developing complex fruit flavors, good acid levels and pleasing aromatics.

Vineyards on the east side of the Cascades grow 99% of Washington's wine grapes; nine of the state's ten official AVAs/appellations are located here. The macro appellation of the Columbia Valley encompasses the smaller Yakima Valley AVA, Red Mountain AVA, Walla Walla Valley AVA, Horse Heaven Hills, Wahluke Slope, Rattlesnake Hills and Snipes Mountain (Washington State's newest appellation). The Columbia Gorge AVA begins at the western edge of the Columbia Valley AVA and continues west and south to areas along the Columbia River in both Oregon and Washington.

Other emerging wine regions benefit from the huge rain shadow created by the Cascade Mountains -- the Lake Chelan area, the Ancient Lakes region in north-central Washington and the Columbia River region near Wenatchee. Each of these areas is pursuing AVA status to define their regions as distinct from the Columbia Valley AVA that contains them.

All totaled, Washington wine regions produce more wine grapes than any other state in the U.S., except California. Wine grapes are now the fourth most important fruit crop in Washington State behind apples, cherries and pears.

Washington's Winemaking History

Washington’s first wine grapes were planted in 1825. By 1910, wine grapes were growing in most areas of the state, following the path of early settlers. Initially, it was French, German and Italian immigrants who pioneered the earliest plantings.

Large-scale irrigation, fueled by runoff from the melting snowcaps of the Cascade Mountains, arrived in Eastern Washington in 1903 unlocking the dormant potential of the rich volcanic soils and war, sunny desert-like climate. Italian and German varietals were planted in the Yakima and Columbia Valleys and wine grape acreage expanded rapidly in the early part of the 20^th century.

The first commercial-scale plantings began in the 1960’s. Early commercial producers mentored modern winemaking in the state. The resulting rapid expansion of the industry in the mid-70’s is now rivaled by today’s breakneck pace, where a new winery opens every couple of weeks. The trend started by a few home winemakers and visionary farmers has become a respected and influential industry.

Touring Washington's Wine Country Regions

The map and links below allow you to explore Washington wineries within each Washington wine region. Watch for links to suggested nearby lodging, dining, special events and touring opportunities as you explore the Wines Northwest pages of each region. Click on the region of your choice below to begin.

Official Appellations/AVAs

Other Unofficial Wine Country Regions

Washington's American Viticultural Areas (AVAs)
Yakima Valley - 11,000 acres in production, established 1983
Columbia Valley - 16,600 acres in production, established 1984
Walla Walla Valley - 1,000 acres in production, established 1984
Puget Sound - 80 acres in production, established 1995
Red Mountain - 700 acres in production, established 2001
Columbia Gorge - 400 acres in production, established 2004
Horse Heaven Hills - 6,000 acres in production, established 2005
Wahluke Slope - 5,000 acres in production, established 2006
Rattlesnake Hills - 1,227 acres in production, established 2006
Snipes Mountain - 535-acre in production, established in 2009

Other Unofficial Wine Country Regions

Ancient Lakes area (Central Washington) - pending AVA application
The Ancient Lakes area wine industry is currently preparing its application for American Viticultural Area status.
The Ancient Lakes AVA will consist of the western half of the Quincy Basin. This area has some of
the most dramatic landforms in Washington State, which were formed by Ice Age floods
and include Frenchman Coulee, Potholes Coulee (including the Ancient Lakes themselves),
and Lynch Coulee. Currently more than a thousand acres of wine grapes
and four wineries are located in this growing and dynamic area.

Lake Chelan Valley - pending AVA application
The Lake Chelan Winegrowers Association filed an American Viticultural Area (AVA) application in 2006; a summary of the filing was published in the Federal Register in August of 2008. If authorized, this proposed AVA would establish the 24,040acre Lake Chelan American viticultural area in north central Washington. The Lake Chelan Valley lies entirely within the Columbia Valley AVA and about 112 miles east-northeast of Seattle. Distinguishing features of the proposed Lake Chelan viticultural area include its geology, geography, soils, and climate as directly influenced by past alpine glacial activity of the Cascade region. Lake Chelan Valley is the only valley in the Cascade Range in Oregon or Washington that holds a natural lake of its size. The climate of the agricultural and viticultural lands surrounding the lower (eastern) end of the lake is strongly moderated by the thermal effect of the lake on the air temperatures.

Spokane Area - unofficial wine region
Leavenworth Area - unofficial wine region
Columbia River - unofficial wine region
North Central Washington - unofficial wine region

Grapes Harvested

2007 - 127,150 tons

2006 - 120,500 tons
64% - Red; 36% - White
2005 - 110,000 tons
2004 - 107,000 tons
2002 - 115,00 tons
2000 - 90,000 tons
1995 - 62,000 tons
1990 - 38,000 tons

Major Varietals Produced

Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot,
Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc,
Gewürztraminer,
Grenache, Lemberger,
Merlot, Pinot Noir, Riesling,
Sangiovese, Sauvignon Blanc,
Sémillon, Syrah

Leading Varietals

Reds: Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon,
Syrah, Cab Franc, Sangiovese

Whites: Chardonnay, Riesling,
Sauvignon Blanc, Sémillon, Viognier

Additional Varieties

Aligoté, Barbera, Cinsault,
Dolcetto, Grenache, Madeleine Angevine,
Malbec, Mourvèdre, Müller-Thurgau,
Muscats - assorted,
Nebbiolo, Petite Sirah,
Petit Verdot, Pinot Gris, Siegerrebe,
Tempranillo, Zinfandel

Washington Wine Facts

* Ranks 2nd nationally in premium
wine production

* Averages 17.4 hours of sunlight per
day, about two hours more than in
California's prime growing region.

* A growing, 3-billion-dollar
Washington industry employing
more than 1,000 people

*   Washington’s wine industry has a
    national economic impact of $4.7
    billion per year, according to a study
    released in Feb 2008
    by MKF Research.

Number of Wineries

February 2009 - 602
2008 - 550
2006 - 460
2004 - 323
2003 - 250
2002 - 208
1999 - 144
1993 - 80
1986 - 38
1981 - 19

Vinifera Acreage in Production

2009 - 33,000 acres
57% Red; 43% White

2007 - 31,000 acres
2005 - 28,000 acres
53% Red; 47% White
(17% increase in Riesling)
2004 - 27,400 acres
2002 - 24,200 acres
(57% Red, 43% White)
1998 - 12,800
1993 - 11,100
(36% Red, 64% White)
1969 - 469 acres

Home