This path was created by Ben Rearick. 

"We're on the same latitude as Bordeaux!": Networking Territory in the Columbia Valley AVA

History of the Columbia Valley AVA

While the Washington state began producing European-style wine grapes in the 1960s, the Columbia Valley did not become and American Viticultural Area (AVA) until 1984. The rise of the wine industry in Washington is often credited to a former Washington State University professor, Walter Clore. According to Washington State University's College of Agricultural, Human, and Resource Sciences, Clore strongly advocated for the cultivation of wine grapes, working to overturn state laws that limited their growth ("A Brief History").

Advocates for the Washington wine industry, both in its infancy and today, argue that the Columbia Valley has ideal conditions for growing certain varieties of wine, in part because of the temperature and sun, and in part because of irrigation. According to the Washington State Wine Commission:

“The Columbia Valley is Washington’s largest appellation, comprising more than 60% (17,000 acres) of the state's total vinifera grape plantings. This high-desert region encompasses parts of three rivers – the Columbia, Snake and Yakima – as well as the Yakima Valley, Walla Walla Valley, Red Mountain, Wahluke Slope and Horse Heaven Hills appellations. Its volcanic, well-drained, sandy loam soils are low in nutrients, which stresses the vines and contributes to concentrated fruit flavor in the grapes. Dominant varieties are Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay.”

Currently, AVAs in Washington State look like this:

The Columbia Valley AVA is the largest wine region in Washington; most other AVAs in the state are actually sub-appelations of the Columbia Valley (Washington State Wine) and Washington state is the second largest wine producer in the United States (the top producer is California).

This page has paths:

Contents of this path: