Washington wine
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Washington (Wine Region) | |
 Vineyards in the Yakima Valley AVA. |
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| Official name | State of Washington |
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| Appellation type | U.S. state |
| Year established | 1889 |
| Years of wine industry | 1825-present |
| Country | USA |
| Sub-regions | Columbia Gorge AVA, Columbia Valley AVA, Horse Heaven Hills AVA, Puget Sound AVA, Rattlesnake Hills AVA, Red Mountain AVA, Wahluke Slope AVA, Walla Walla Valley AVA, Yakima Valley AVA |
| Total area | 71,342 square miles (184,775 km²) |
| Size of planted vineyards | 31,000 acres (125 km²)[1] |
| Grapes produced | Aligote, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, Gewurztraminer, Grenache, Lemberger, Leon Millot, Madeleine Angevine, Madeleine Sylvaner, Malbec, Marechal Foch, Merlot, Muller Thurgau, Muscat Canelli, Muscat Ottonel, Petit Verdot, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir, Riesling, Roussanne, Sangiovese, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, Siegerrebe, Syrah, Viognier, Zinfandel[2] |
| No. of wineries | 427[1] |
Washington wine is wine produced from grapes grown in the U.S. state of Washington. Washington ranks second in the United States in the production of wine, behind only California. By 2006, the state had over 31,000 acres (130 km²) of vineyards, a harvest of 120,000 short tons (109,000 MT) of grapes, and exports going to over 40 countries around the world from the 500 wineries located in the state.[3] Washington produces premium and superpremium wines. In 2006, The Wine Advocate gave two perfect scores of 100 points for Cabernet Sauvignon wines made by Quilceda Creek Vintners using grapes from the Columbia Valley AVA. Only 15 other American wines have ever been scored so highly by The Wine Advocate, all from California.[citation needed]
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[edit] Geography and climate
The glaciers resting upon what is now Washington state retreated 16,000 years ago, leaving behind a free-draining gravel bed up to 250 feet (76 m) deep in some places. The topsoil is sandy and stone-studded, which is ideal for low-vigor vine growing. Persistent lava flows created basalt-based soil foundation.[3]
The rain shadow of the Cascade Range leaves the Columbia River Basin with around 8 inches (20 cm) of annual rain fall. Vignerons take advantage of long sunlight hours (on average, two more hours a day than in California during the growing season) and consistent temperatures. The fruit attains optimal ripening while the cool nights help the vines to shut down and the grape maintain natural levels of acidity.[3]
Washington shares the same latitude as the prime wine-producing areas of Europe, which is felt by many to contribute to the quality of the grapes. A drawback of the region is that extreme winter freezes occur with some regularity, killing off substantial portions of the vineyards, which then have to be brought back to full production over a period of years.
[edit] History
The early history of the Washington wine industry can be traced to the introduction of Cinsault grapes by Italian immigrants to the Walla Walla region. In the 1950s and 1960s, the precursors of the states biggest wineries (Chateau Ste Michelle and Columbia Winery) were founded. Throughout the rest of the 20th century, the wine world discovered a new aspect of Washington wines with each passing decade - starting with Rieslings and Chardonnays in the 1970s, the Merlot craze of the 1980s and the emergence of Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah in the 1990s.[3]
[edit] Grape varieties
While over 80 grape varieties are grown in Washington state, the primary grapes used in the production of wine are from the Vitis vinifera family of grapes.[4] The main grapes used in wine production in Washington include Barbera, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, Gewürztraminer, Grenache, Malbec, Merlot, Nebbiolo, Petite Syrah, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir, Riesling, Sangiovese, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, Syrah, Tempranillo, Viognier, and Zinfandel.[4] Washington State is also home to planting of some lesser known Vitis vinifera varieties that are also used in wine production for some experimental varietals and blending. These include Abouriou, Alicante Bouschet, Aligoté, Auxerrois, Black Cornichon, Black Monukka, Black Muscat, Black Prince, Blauer Portugieser, Calzin, Carignane, Chasselas, Chauche Gris, Clevner Mariafeld, Colombard, Csaba, Ehrenfelser, Feher Szagos, Gamay, Green Hungarian, Lemberger, Madeleine Angevine, Madeleine Sylvaner, Melon de Bourgogne, Mission, Morio Muscat, Muller-Thurgau, Muscat of Alexandria, Muscat Canelli, Muscat Ottonel, Palomino, Petite Verdot, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Meunier, Pirovano, Rkatsiteli, Rose of Peru, Salvador, Sauvignon Vert, Scheurebe, Siegerrebe, Sylvaner, Trollinger, and Trousseau. [4] Some notable French hybrid grapes used in wine production include Aurore and Baco Noir.[4]
[edit] Wine regions
Washington has nine federally-defined American Viticultural Areas mostly located in Eastern Washington. The largest AVA is the Columbia Valley AVA, which extends into a small portion of northern Oregon and also encompasses six of the other Washington AVAs. These include the Walla Walla Valley AVA, the Horse Heaven Hills AVA, the Wahluke Slope AVA, and the Yakima Valley AVA, which in turn also encompasses the Rattlesnake Hills AVA and the Red Mountain AVA. The Columbia Gorge AVA is west of the Columbia Valley AVA. Washington's only AVA located west of the Cascades is the Puget Sound AVA. The Lake Chelan and the Ancient Lakes wine-growing regions of eastern Washington are currently seeking federal AVA status.
[edit] Columbia Valley
The Columbia Valley AVA, known for its structured Cabernet Sauvignons and jammy Merlots, is home to 90% of Washington state’s wine industry. This massive appellation, with over 16,000 acres (100 km²) under vine and well over 300 wineries, was the driving force behind the development of the state’s wine industry.[citation needed] It is geographically defined by three mountain ranges that border it on every side but the east, and by the Snake, Yakima and Columbia Rivers which converge within it. Located in the lee of the Cascade Mountains, the area is sheltered from the marine climate to the west and is left with semi-desert conditions. While portions of this appellation cross into Oregon, the majority of wine activity occurs on the Washington state side. The Columbia Valley appellation was created as a stepping stone for the definition of other viticultural areas in the state. Subsequently, smaller and more distinct appellations have been created within it.
[edit] Wine tourism
Washington has a nascent wine tourism industry developing along similar lines to that found in California's Napa Valley. Starting in the late 1990s, wine industry officials began talking to state tourism officials and created the Washington Wine Tourism Task Force in 2000.[citation needed] Obstacles to be overcome include remoteness of the state wine industry from major transportation hubs, lack of high-end dining and lodging, and a lack of awareness of the region by possible customers. Promotion of the state as a wine tourism destination focuses on the high quality of the wine, a different wine tourism experience from California, a critical mass of wineries to visit, and lower costs than California.[citation needed]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ a b Columbia Valley Winery Association (2007). "Washington Grape Acreage and Winery Survey Results Final: April, 2007". Retrieved Nov. 16, 2007.
- ^ Appellation America (2007). "Washington (state): Appellation Description". Retrieved Nov. 14, 2007.
- ^ a b c d C. Fallis, editor The Encyclopedic Atlas of Wine pg 50 Global Book Publishing 2006 ISBN 1740480503
- ^ a b c d R. Irvine & W. Clore The Wine Project pg 433-438 Sketch Publications 1997 ISBN 0-9650834-9-7
[edit] External links
- Washington Wine Commission
- Washington Association of Wine Grape Growers
- Grape Virology Program at Washington State University
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