Washington

Question 1

What are characteristics of Washington?

Answer 1

• desert are east of Sierra Nevada mountains (Columbia Valley)
• quality wine regions are not on the coast
• most vineyards are irrigated
• longer hang time for ripening
• sandy soils
• cold winters = no phylloxera
• top grapes are cabernet sauvignon, merlot, syrah
• 2nd largest US producer of vitis vinifera wines

Question 2

What are the labeling laws for Washington?

Answer 2

*wine must be 95% varietal or AVA to be labelled as such

Question 3

What are the grapes of Washington?

Answer 3

White:

Riesling
chardonnay
pinot gris
sauvignon blanc
guwerztraminer
viognier
semillon

Red:

pinot noir
cabernet sauvignon
merlot
syrah
cabernet franc
Malbec
sangiovese

Question 4

What are the significant AVAs of Washington?

Answer 4

• Columbia Valley
• Walla Walla Valley
• Columbia Gorge
• Horse Heaven Hills
• Wahluke Slopes
• Yakima Valley

Question 5

What are the shared AVAs of Washington?

Answer 5

• Columbia Valley
• Columbia Gorge
• Walla Walla Valley

Question 6

What are characteristics of Columbia Valley?

Answer 6

• Huge shared AVA with Oregon
• diluted terroir, unpredictable wines
• 11 sub-AVAs
• 99% of Washington State wine grapes
• Riesling, merlot, chardonnay, cabernet sauvignon, syrah
• with the exception of Puget Sound and Columbia Gorge all other areas are sub-AVAs to Columbia Valley

Question 7

What are characteristics of Walla Walla AVA?

Answer 7

• planted 20 years ago
• sandy loess and basalt volcanic soils
• cooler weather than most of WA AVAs
• dry farmed
• intensely flavored wines
• cabernet in King

Question 8

What are characteristics of Horse Heaven AVA?

Answer 8

• so. sloping benches along the Columbia River
• sandy soils
• steady winds that prevent disease and pests
• dry and warmer due to winds
• 25% of Washington’s vine acreage
• a sub-AVA to Columbia Valley

Question 9

What are characteristics of Wahluke slope?

Answer 9

• 1/5 of Washington’s grape production
• a sub-AVA of Columbia Valley
• WA’s warmest site, abundance of water
• alluvial component soils
• riper Riesling, fruitier reds

Question 10

What are characteristics of Yakima Valley AVA?

Answer 10

• oldest wine area of WA
• WA 1st recognized AVA
• chardonnay is King
• silt and loam soils, which give low vigor and low yields
• 5-10 degrees cooler than other WA AVAs
• wines with concentrative and density, good acidity