Rattlesnake Hills AVA

Rattlesnake Hills AVA
Wine region
Type American Viticultural Area
Year established 2006[1]
Years of wine industry since 1968
Country United States
Part of Columbia Valley AVA, Washington, Yakima Valley AVA
Climate region Region II
Heat units 2600 - 3000
Precipitation (annual average) 7 inches (18 cm)
Soil conditions silt loam
Total area 68,500 acres (27,721 ha)
Size of planted vineyards 1,500 acres (607 ha)
No. of vineyards 29
Grapes produced Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Chenin blanc, Gewurztraminer, Malbec, Merlot, Muscat Canelli, Petite Sirah, Riesling, Semillon, Viognier[2]
Wine produced Varietal, Dessert wine, Meritage

The Rattlesnake Hills AVA is an American Viticultural Area located in Yakima County, Washington. United States Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) awarded Rattlesnake Hills its appellation status on March 20, 2006, making Rattlesnake Hills Washington's ninth federally recognized American Viticultural Area.[3] The Rattlesnake Hills AVA is entirely contained within the Yakima Valley AVA, which is in turn is entirely contained within the larger Columbia Valley AVA. The hills form the northern boundary of Yakima Valley, and the AVA includes land between the north bank of the Sunnyside Canal and the entirety of the southern slopes of the Rattlesnake Hills between Outlook and the Wapato Dam. The AVA is centered on the city of Zillah. With elevations ranging from 850 feet (259 m) to 3,085 feet (940 m), this AVA contains the highest point in the Yakima Valley AVA

Vineyards

A red wine made from grapes grown in the Rattlesnake Hills AVA.

Vineyards in Rattlesnake Hills AVA include the Morrison Vineyard, planted in 1968 to Riesling and Cabernet Sauvignon for Chateau Ste. Michelle. It is the oldest vineyard in the AVA. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, the Hyatt Vineyard, Whisky Canyon, Outlook, and the Portteus Vineyard were also planted.[4]

Opposition to AVA

When an AVA designation for the Rattlesnake Hills was proposed it created controversy among some Washington winemakers and vineyard growers.[5] One of its most notable opponents was grower Dick Boushey of Boushey Vineyards in the Rattlesnake Hills (but not within the boundaries of the AVA). Boushey argued that the area did not have distinctive terroir that would merit an AVA stating "I know of no regional style, specific variety or type of wine that is unique to this proposed area. The granting of this proposal would confuse consumers and undermine the existing Yakima Valley Appellation."[6]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Code of Federal Regulations. "§ 9.193 Rattlesnake Hills." Title 27: Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms; Part 9 — American Viticultural Areas; Subpart C — Approved American Viticultural Areas. Retrieved Jan. 30, 2008.
  2. ↑ Appellation America (2007). "Rattlesnake Hills (AVA): Appellation Description". Retrieved Jan. 30, 2008.
  3. ↑ Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau U.S. Viticultural Areas Updated as of 1/07/2010
  4. ↑ Gregutt, Paul. High expectations for Rattlesnake Hills, Washington's newest AVA. The Seattle Times. http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/wineadviser/2008198482_winecol24.html
  5. ↑ Shannon Dininny "New wine grape-growing region recognized" Seattle Times. February 22nd, 2006
  6. ↑ Howard G Goldberg "New AVA for Washington" Decanter Magazine. March 1st, 2006
Pinot Noir grapes in May in the Rattlesnake Hills AVA. The Rattlesnake Hills lie in the background.

Coordinates: 46°24′12″N 120°15′21″W / 46.40333°N 120.25583°W / 46.40333; -120.25583

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