25. Washington State Flashcards
What effect does the Cascade Mountain range have on Columbia Valley AVA and its sub-AVAs?
It blocks the wet Pacific weather and creates arid (150-250mm), warm conditions
What three AVAs border with Oregon?
1) Columbia Gorge AVA (info in Oregon deck)
2) Walla Walla Valley AVA
3) Columbia Valley AVA
What are the top five grape varieties produced in Washington State?
1) Cabernet Sauvignon
2) Merlot
3) Chardonnay
4) Riesling
5) Syrah
What are the primary two overarching AVAs of Washington State?
1) Columbia Valley AVA
2) Puget Sound AVA
What is the general style of Washington State’s wine and why?
1) Ripe often high alcohol
2) Generally warm, sunny, dry conditions
What is the general style of Washington State’s Riesling?
Off-dry, with around 10–15 g/L residual sugar
Describe the climate of Columbia Valley AVA (including Walla Walla)
Continental with hot summers, rapid cooling in the autumn and cold winters
Why is phylloxera a low risk and irrigation required in Columbia Valley AVA and its sub-AVAs?
Sandy soils
What is the most planted variety in Columbia Valley AVA?
Cabernet Sauvignon
What is the key sub-AVA of Yakima Valley AVA?
Red Mountain
What benefit does the location of Washington State for viticulture? (2)
1) Continental - cool nights
2) Northerly latitude means its growing season is long for daytime ripening in the summer, which slows as autumn brings cooler weather
What are Washington State’s two main weather hazards?
1) Spring frost
2) Winter freeze
What is the most widely planted variety in Yakima Valley AVA?
Chardonnay
What four factors contribute to dominant Cabernet plantings and riper styles being achieved in Red Mountain AVA?
1) South-west facing slopes
2) Warmest climate in Washington
3) Poor nutrient, low yielding soil
4) Wide diurnal range
Why are many vineyards planted on slopes in Yakima Valley AVA?
Frosts and winter freeze can be hazardous in valley floor sites
Riesling is the most planted grape in Rattlesnake Hills AVA. Why is this?
Vineyards are located on the south facing slopes of the Rattlesnake Hills at higher altitudes
Columbia Valley AVA and its sub-AVAs are generally planted in which aspect?
South-facing
Washington’s vineyards within Walla Walla Valley AVA are located where up to what altitude?
1) The northeast of the Blue Mountain foothills
2) 600m
Besides Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, Cabernet Franc and Malbec, what else is planted in Walla Walla Valley AVA?
Italian, Spanish, and Rhône (red and white) varieties
What is the only AVA west of the
Cascade Mountain range?
Puget Sound AVA
Describe the climate of Puget Sound AVA
Warm and dry in the summer, with mild, relatively wet winters, receiving up to 1,500 mm of rain per year
What is most commonly planted in Puget Sound AVA?
Crosses: Madeleine Angevine, Müller-Thurgau, Siegerrebe
Which company dominates production in Washington state?
Ste. Michelle Wine Estates
Describe the industry trend within Washington state (2)
Rapid expansion:
1) From 10 wineries in 1975 and approximately 200 in 2000 to over 1,000 today.
2) The area under vine has doubled since 2000 to over 23,000 hectares.
Where is most Washington State wine sold?
Within the state via cellar door given the proximity to Seattle
What are the four AVAs (excluding sub-AVAs of Columbia Valley AVA)?
1) Yakima Valley AVA
2) Horse Heaven Hill AVA
3) Walla Walla Valley AVA
4) Wahluke Slope AVA
