Washington Wine Region: Walla Walla Valley AVA

As we continue through Washington Wine Month, our tour takes us deep into Columbia Valley to the Walla Walla Valley AVA.  It is located in the far southeast portion of the state, just east of junction between the Columbia River and Snake River.  It's one of the oldest wine producing regions in the state, sees the most sunlight, and also encompasses some of the greatest vineyards in the country.  A good portion of the valley stretches into Oregon, is that state's warmest region, and produces great Syrah.  Now let's check out some of the vineyards, wineries, and what makes this AVA different:

Walla Walla River Valley is a great place to grow wine grapes.  It sees between 190-220 days of sunlight per year along with hot days and cold nights.  The temperature range give great wine balance and the sunlight allows grapes like Cabernet Sauvignon (which makes up 41% of the region's varietals) enough time to mature.  Other varietals grown are Merlot, Syrah, and Cabernet Franc.  The soil composition is of loess, which is wind blown sand and clay, giving the soil excellent drainage.  The vines will dig deep for water and struggle, giving more concentration to fruit clusters. 

The charge to bring Walla Walla back to wine promenance after Prohibition began with the founding of Leonetti Cellar in the 70's, followed by Woodward Canyon Winery and L'Ecole No. 41 in the early 80's.  Shortly afterward, the region gained AVA status in 1984 with but three wineries and just over 60 acres planted.  Now there are over 100 wineries and 1800 acres planted!  Some of my favorite wineries include Tamarack Cellars, Dusted Valley Vintners, Dunham Cellars, K Vintners, Pepper Bridge Winery, Seven Hills Winery, and Isenhower Cellars, to name just a few.  Some of these wineries get their grapes from and own some of the best vineyards in the country like Cougar Hills, Woodward Canyon Estate, Seven Hills, Buty Rockgarden Estate, Mill Creek Upland, and Girasol.

All of this surrounds the city of Walla Walla.  If you get a chance, make your way up there, stay at a vineyard and visit these great wineries!

Washington Wine Region: Columbia Valley AVA

The Columbia Valley AVA was Washington's first American Viticultural Area (established in 1984) and is also it's largest, comprised of about 11,000 acres (1/3 of the state!).  The region also produces 99% of state wine grapes which includes Riesling, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Chenin Blanc, Chardonnay, Semillon and Merlot (the most planted varietal), along with many others.  It's an ideal locale for producing high quality wines with it's climate and soil. 

A great majority of the AVA resides in Washington, with a small portion dipping into northeastern Oregon.  It borders the Cascade Mountains in the west, shielding it from the heavy Pacific rains.  This makes an arid environment for the Columbia River Basin and its tributaries.

Many factors create extremely favorable conditions for wine grapes.  Lack of rain water forces vine roots deep into volcanic, loamy soils and allows farmers to control growth with irrigation.  The more the vines struggle the more they concentrate on the fruit clusters, making deeper, richer wines.  Days are hot and nights are cool, giving the grapes an excellent balance between acidity and sugar.  Due to the northern latitude, Washington also has a long growing season (over 6 months) and more hours of sunlight.  This gives farmers the opportunity to harvest later during cool temperatures.  This gives the grapes more mature aromas, flavors, tannins and potential.

The fact that the valley is so massive gives many possibilities for the existence of various microclimates.  This is one of the reason why Red Mountain, Yakima Valley, Walla Walla Valley, Wahluke Slope, Rattlesnake Hills, Horse Heaven Hills and Snipes Mountain are considered uniquely distinguished geographic growing areas.  We will be talking about these regions while we navigate through Washington Wine Month!

Washington Wine History

Washington Wine Month continues with a bit of Washington wine history.  So everyone knows that Washington has become one of the greatest wine producing states in the US, but how and when did it start?  Well, it began all the way back in 1825, when traders from the Hudson's Bay Company brought in the first vines to Fort Vancouver. 

Eventually, Italian and German immigrants brought in their own wines and produced wine in the 1860s and 70s.  Italians from Puglia brought in the Ottavianello varietal, which is related to Cinsault (a French Rhone blending grape).  This little known grape is no longer grown in Washington (though Cinsault is), but a recent indigenous grape revival has put it back into production in Puglia.  In the Ostuni DOC, wines are made up of no less than 85% of the Ottavianello varietal!

Wine production continued until Washington became one of the first states to begin Prohibition in 1916 and all Vitis Vinifera vines were lost.  After Prohibition, Concord grapes were planted, mainly by the Nawico and Pommerelle wineries, and used to create fortified sweet wine.  Finally, in the 1950s, Washington State University began to replant Vitis Vinifera vines (Grenache being the first) and test which varietals grew best in local climates and soils.  Some professors eventually banded together in 1962 to create what is now Columbia Winery, while Nawico and Pommerelle combined to form Chateau Ste. Michelle, and both began to produce premium wines. 

In the 1970s, Washington found a new home for Cabernet Sauvignon.  This grape brought them national acclaim, with Leonetti Cellar being the best example in 1978.  More notariety would come with Chateau Ste. Michelle being named Best American Winery in 1988 and five Washington wines making Wine Spectator's Top 100 for the very first time in 1989.  Today Washington has 650 licensed wineries and countinues to grow every year.  The state has a colorful wine past and a bright future!