USA - Washington State

Question 1

When was Columbia Valley made an AVA?

Answer 1

1984

Question 2

How large is Columbia Valley AVA (1984)?

Answer 2

Over 4.5 million ha
(11,308,636 acres)
One quarter of Washington’s landmass

Question 3

Describe the climate of Columbia Valley AVA (1984)

Answer 3

Dry and continental

In the rain shadow of the Cascade Mountains

Question 4

Describe the soil of Columbia Valley AVA (1984)

Answer 4

Varied - as it is a very large appellation
Generally basalt bedrock
Sandy or silty loam top soil deposited by the Missoula Floods

Question 5

What was Washington’s first AVA?

Answer 5

Yakima Valley - 1983

Question 6

Which Washington regions are not nested within Columbia Valley AVA (1984)?

Answer 6

Puget Sound AVA

Columbia Gorge AVA

Question 7

Which Washington regions are nested within Columbia Valley AVA? (Hint - there are 10)

Answer 7

Yakima Valley AVA
Rattlesnake Hills AVA
Snipes Mountain AVA
Red Mountain AVA
Naches Heights AVA

Horse Heaven Hills AVA
Walla Walla AVA

Wahluke Slope AVA
Ancient Lakes AVA
Lake Chelan AVA

Question 8

What are the nested AVAs of Yakima Valley (1983)?

Answer 8

Rattlesnake Hills AVA
Snipes Mountain AVA
Red Mountain AVA (smallest appellation in Washington)

Question 9

What style of wine is Red Mountain AVA (2001) known for?

Answer 9

Full bodied red wines with marked tannin
Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, some Syrah
Little white wine due to heat

Question 10

Name a producer from Red Mountain AVA (2001)

Answer 10

Col Solare (collaboration between Ch. Ste Michelle and Antinori)

Question 11

What is the climate like in Red Mountain AVA (2001)?

Answer 11

Arid desert climate - irrigation is required
Hot - exceptionally high heat accumulation during the ripening season
Drier than other areas
South west facing slope
Moderated by Yakima River, also provides breezes

Question 12

What is the soil like in Red Mountain AVA (2001)?

Answer 12

High pH
High in calcium carbonate
Low fertility soil (small berries = higher tannin)

Question 13

What is the soil and climate like in Snipes Mountain AVA (2009)?

Answer 13

Arid desert climate - irrigation
Loess and fist/melon sized gravel
Missoula flood sediment

Question 14

What makes Rattlesnake Hills AVA (2006) different to the rest of Yakima Valley AVA?

Answer 14

Higher elevation for viticultural area assists in avoiding frost

Question 15

What makes Naches Heights AVA (2011) different to nearby AVAs?

Answer 15

A small plateau that sits above the height of the Missoula Floods
Loess soil

Question 16

When did Walla Walla Valley become an AVA?

Answer 16

1984

Question 17

Which AVA in Washington has the highest concentration of wineries?

Answer 17

Walla Walla Valley AVA (1984)

Question 18

Describe the climate of Walla Walla Valley AVA (1984)

Answer 18

Highly continental
More rainfall than surrounding areas due to the proximity of the Blue Mountains to the east but still requires irrigation
Cooler than many other Washington AVAs

Question 19

What is the most planted grape variety in Walla Walla AVA (1984)

Answer 19

Cabernet Sauvignon

Question 20

Which Washington AVA continues over the border into Idaho?

Answer 20

Lewis-Clark Valley (2016)

Question 21

When was Puget Sound AVA established?

Answer 21

1995

Question 22

Describe the climate of Puget Sound AVA

Answer 22

Maritime, temperate climate

Summers are warm and dry, but this is Washington’s coolest and wettest region - does not require irrigation

Question 23

What is the only Washington state AVA west of the Cascades?

Answer 23

Puget Sound AVA (1995)

Question 24

What are some varieties commonly grown in Puget Sound AVA?

Answer 24

Pinot Noir and Riesling.
Also:
Müller-Thurgau
Siegerrebe
Madeleine-Angevine

Question 25

Where is Horse Heaven Hills AVA?

Answer 25

Bounded by the Columbia River to the south and Yakima Valley AVA to the north

Question 26

What varieties are planted in Horse Heaven Hills AVA?

Answer 26

Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay, Riesling

Question 27

What are some of the common viticultural hazards in Washington state?

Answer 27

- Lack of rainfall - need to irrigate (usually drip irrigation) - Spring and autumn frost - Winter freeze

Question 28

What are some of the common viticultural advantages in Washington state?

Answer 28

- Winter freeze means low pressure for pests such as phylloxera, nematodes, mites etc - Low rainfall and low humidity means low disease pressure - easier to avoid use of fungicides/chemicals

Question 29

Which wine styles are associated with Wahluke Slope AVA (2006)?

Answer 29

Full bodied red wines due to hot, dry climate | Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Merlot

Question 30

What is the soil type and aspect of Wahluke Slope AVA (2006)?

Answer 30

Alluvial and loess | Uniform, broad southfacing slope with 8% incline

Question 31

Which wine styles are associated with Ancient Lakes of Columbia Valley AVA (2012)?

Answer 31

Aromatic white wines. Northerly position means heat accumulation starts later, poor soils Riesling, Chardonnay

Question 32

Describe the soil and climate of Lake Chelan AVA

Answer 32

'Lake effect' mitigates frost and provides milder growing conditions and less diurnal range Area not affected by Missoula Floods Volcanic pumice and glacial sediments (quartz, mica)

Question 33

Describe the soil and climate of Lake Chelan AVA

Answer 33

'Lake effect' mitigates frost and provides milder growing conditions and less diurnal range Area not affected by Missoula Floods Volcanic pumice and glacial sediments (quartz, mica)

Question 34

When was Columbia Gorge AVA established?

Answer 34

2004