North America - United States - Pacific Northwest

Question 1

What is and where is the United States Pacific Northwest?

Answer 1

Oregon and Washington, the very northwest of the United States, both along the coast of the Pacific ocean.

Question 2

Identify the Willamette Valley in relation to Portland, Oregon and the Columbia Valley in relation to Seattle, Washington on a map.

Question 3

Physical features of Pacific Northwest?

Answer 3

Oregon: Coastal Mountain Range to the west, creates a rain shadow. Cascade Mountain Range to the east.

Columbia Valley: Cascade Mountain Range to the west, creates a rain shadow.

Van Duzer Corridor
Columbia, Yakima, and Snake Rivers provides water source.
Columbia Valley AVA has generally south-facing slopes.

Question 3

Grape variety names

Answer 3

Willamette Valley: Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris (most widely planted red and white), Chardonnay, Riesling

Columbia Valley: Chardonnay, Riesling, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah

Question 3

Name important appellations

Answer 3

Oregon: Willamette Valley AVA

Washington: Columbia Valley AVA, Yakima Valley AVA, Walla Walla Valley AVA

Oregon: Willamette Valley AVA, Dundee Hills AVA, Yamhill-Carlton AVA, Eola-Amity Hills AVA, Chehalem Mountains AVA, Ribbon Ridge AVA, McMinnville AVA

Shared AVAs between Washington and Oregon: Columbia Valley AVA, Walla Walla Valley AVA, Columbia Gorge AVA

Washington: Yakima Valley AVA, Horse Heaven Hills AVA, Red Mountain AVA

Question 4

Climate of US Pacific Northwest?

Answer 4

Willamette Valley: Cool Mediterranean with Maritime influence.

Columbia Valley: Warm Desert

Question 4

Soil type?

Answer 4

Willamette Valley: Volcanic, marine sediment
Columbia Valley: Gravel

Question 5

Wine Laws?

Answer 5

Oregon:

90% minimum for stated variety, except for Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and others.
95% minimum for AVA

Question 5

Grape growing information?

Answer 5

Irrigation needed in the Columbia Valley.

Question 6

Styles?

Answer 6

Oregon: Dry whites, dry reds, sparkling wines
Washington: Dry white wines and dry red wines

Question 7

Producers/proprietary brands?

Answer 7

Willamette Valley: Eyrie Vineyards, Domaine Drouhin, Domaine Serene, Erath, Ponzi

Columbia Valley: Quilceda Creek, L’Ecole No. 41, Château Ste. Michelle, Leonetti

Question 8

Tell me about the history of US Pacific Northwest winemaking.

Answer 8

David Lett of Eyrie Vineyards
Missoula Floods
Absence of phylloxera in Columbia Valley due to desert conditions.

Question 9

Food and Beverage pairings

Answer 9

Willamette Valley Pinot Noir: Salmon, butternut squash
Washington Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot: Beef, lamb