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This soil makeup is ideal for growing grape vines, as it allows rainfall to drain much more efficiently. During this time, a large amount of silt-based soil and sand was washed into the area, ontop of the already exisiting volcanic rock and gravel.
Washington wine maps series#
Many, many years ago, there were a series of floods that persisted throughout the region known as the Missoula Floods. The soil composition of these AVAs is varied. Columbia Valley Sub-AppellationsĬurrently, there are 10 sub-appellations with Columbia Valley, and more could potentially be announced. Loess Vineyard, Leonetti Cellar, Walla Walla, Washington. There are a number of innovative producers working to extract hidden gems from this relatively young AVA. Don’t be afraid to sample some of the seemingly random grape varieties and blends. Around 30 other grape varieties are also produced, ranging from Pinot Gris and Viognier to Cabernet Franc and Sangiovese. While the above describes some of the more typical flavors and aromas of popular grape varieties, Columbia Valley’s vast landscape and diverse micro-climates make it nearly impossible to generalize.
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Use of oak varies and is dependent upon individual producer, but Riesling tends to be un-oaked, while Chardonnay could go either way. On the other hand, warmer sites will typically yield more evidence of stone fruit in the wine (think peach, apricot and nectarine). Grape varieties such as Chardonnay and Riesling grown in cooler areas will almost always exhibit more citrus and tree fruit flavors (think lemon, lime and melon). While most vines throughout the entire region are are planted on South-facing slopes - which helps to capture the most sunlight during the growing season and promotes drainage during the winter - some vineyard sites are warmer than others. Image courtesy Washington State Wine.įor white wine, flavor and aromatic profiles largely depend on individual growing sites and micro climates. Cabernet Sauvignon grows on vines at Uplands Vineyard. Merlot adheres to more red and blue fruit flavors, with some evidence of overripe berries, red cherries and anise. Cabernet Sauvignon brings to light black and red fruit-forward flavors, backed by substantial hints of earth and in some cases vanilla creme-brulee. It is worth pointing out some of the noteworthy flavors present in Columbia Valley red wines, as they are true to their New Worldliness. This wine region is perhaps best known for its Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot production, although fine expressions of Riesling, Chardonnay and Syrah are also being produced. The current ratio of red to white is 58% to 42%. If you’re looking to take a wine vacation to sample Washington’s production diversity, it’s safe to say that you need not go outside of this AVA. In fact, the entire wine region extends beyond the borders of Washington to the South, encroaching on the Northeastern portion of Oregon. This means that almost every other wine growing region within Washington is a sub-apellation of Columbia Valley, except for the Columbia Gorge and Puget Sound.Īround 99% of all wine produced in Washington State comes from the Columbia Valley. Since its inception in 1984, Columbia Valley has become the grandest of AVA’s within Washington State (over 11 million acres), and its landmass comprises no less than 1/3 of the entire state. In recent years, Columbia Valley has become recognized by wine enthusiasts and professionals around the world as one of the premier New World wine growing regions within the United States. We respect your privacy and take protecting it seriously