USA - Washington Flashcards
Where is the state? What is significant about plantings and where do the bulk lie?
NW corner of the states.
Second only to Cali in terms of wine produced from Vinifera.
The majority of wines come from Columbia Valley AVA in the E part of the state, where the Cascade Mountains block the wet Pacific weather and create warm, dry conditions,
A small number of wineries are based on the W side of the Cascades in the cooler, wetter Puget Sound AVA.
When was grape growing established?
The first grapes were planted at Fort Vancouver by the Hudson’s Bay Company in 1825, marking the start of the concerted effort to start growing grapes in the state.
By 1854 hybrid varieties had arrived in the nurseries in the Puget Sound region and, by 1860, grapes were growing in the Walla Walla Valley.
What factor accelerated viticulture?
Large-scale irrigation, made possible from meltwater off the cascade mountains, began in E WA in 1903, unlocking huge potential of the land and its sunny yet arid climate.
Immigrants from Italy and Germany planted homeland varieties in the Yakima and Columbia Valleys, and wine grape acreage expanded rapidly with the first annual Columbia River Valley Grape Carnival in 1910
What happened to production in the years after prohibition?
5 years after it was repealed, there was already 40 wineries across the state, but the first commercial plantings didn’t take place until 1960.
What is arguably the biggest factor to the growth of production? What did this lead to the creation of?
in 1969 the WA legislature passed House Bill 100, ending over 30 years of protectionism and allowing the import of wines from outside the state, notable Cali and overseas.
Now faced with economic threat, the industry needed to quickly improve and was aided by the legendary Cali winemaker Andre Tchelistcheff, who was already advising Ste. Michelle Vintners on producing premium wines from Vinifera.
This company, founded in 1934, became Chateau Ste. Michelle in 1976 and now accounts for well over half of the state’s production.
Who are significant WA P?
Quilceda Creek and Cayuse Vineyards.
What is the breakdown of plantings?
A wide range is grown (over 70 varieties), without one being particularly dominant.
Produces slightly more black grapes (58% of weight harvested).
The top 5 are: (% of grape harvest)
-Cab Sauv 26%
-Merlot 18%
-Chard 17%
-Riesling 17%
-Syrah 8%
What are the overall growing conditions and profile of the wines?
Warm, sunny and dry growing conditions throughout most of the region, yet with cold nights leading to wines with ripe fruit and often high alcohol, but often with medium (+) to high acidity.
Often a high proportion of new oak, though a number of P are using older or larger oak vessels, especially for Syrah.
A proportion of whole bunch ferm or stem inclusion maybe used for Syrah.
What was the most planted variety? How does winemaking vary?
Riesling, but on the decline.
General style is off-dry, with around 10-15g/L RS.
In recent years there’s been more experimentation with either drier or sweeter styles, including botrytis and ice wine.
Cool ferm in steel is common, but P use a range of additional techniques, including skin contact, ambient yeast, lees and or old oak vessels.
Where does Columbia Valley AVA lie? What does it encompass and how can it influence labelling?
A very large cross border AVA covering approx 1/3rd of WA state, 3.5m ha (4.5m ha in total).
Within its boundaries are 99% of WA plantings, and several smaller AVAs.
The ones with the largest plantings are Yakima Valley. Red Mountain, Horse Heaven Hills, Wahluke Slope, Rattlesnake Hills and Walla Walla Valley.
Many vineyards fall within a sub-AVA, but Columbia Valley AVA can be used for those outside a sub boundary, or wish to make a blend across multiple sub-AVAs.
What is the general climate of Columbia Valley AVA?
The shelter of the Cascade Mountains provides an arid desert like area, which receives 150-250 mm rainfall per annum.
Continental, with hot summers, rapid cooling in autumn and cold winters.
At 45-48N latitude, sunlight hours are long, on average 1 hour longer than in Cali vineyards.
Sugar accumulates rapidly in the summer months, but as temperatures drop in autumn the ripening process is slowed, and flavours and tannins have a chance to develop as sugar accumulation slows.
High diurnal range helps retain acidity.
Given hot summer temperatures, climate change has growers looking for cooler sites.
What are the soil types of Columbia Valley?
The complex soils of basalt bedrock, silty loess and alluvial topsoils are a result of several cycles of Missoula flood events, volcanic activity and glacial movement.
In S-central WA, a number of ridges (anticlines) can be found where bedrock rises towards the surface, creating sloped sites with variances in altitude and aspect.
Many of the sub-AVAs are based on these topographical features.
Free draining and low in nutrients.
What is water availability in Columbia Valley?
Soils are free draining and low in nutrients.
With little rainfall, irrigation is essential in the vast majority of sites.
Water is sourced from Columbia River and its tributaries, together with deep underground aquifers.
Drip irrigation is most common, with some using overhead spraying.
What are the main hazards in Columbia Valley?
Phylloxera risk is low due to high proportion of sandy soils, allowing growers to plant on their own roots.
Low disease and pest pressure due to arid conditions and very cold winters, meaning spraying of pesticides is reduced.
Frosts and winter freezes are the main hazards, with vineyards planted on slopes less at risk.
What are the most planted varieties in Columbia Valley?
Cab Sauv, followed by Merlot, Chard, Riesling and Syrah.
What is significant about Yakima Valley AVA? Size, climate and top varieties?
WA’s oldest appellation, and largest sub-appellation.
With over 7600 ha under vine it supplies over 1/3rd of the states production.
General climate and soil are the same as the wider Columbia Valley AVA. However, spread over a large area, it includes a number of cooler sites most suited to white varieties , and warmer sites for black. Frost and winter freeze can be a problem on the valley floor, so most plantings are on hillsides.
No. 1 is Chard, then Cab Sauv, Merlot, Syrah and Riesling.
Which sub-AVAs are found in Yakima Valley AVA? What are they defined by?
- Red Mountain, Rattlesnake Hills and Snipes Mountain. All of which have vineyards on elevated ridges enabling air drainage, and reduces freeze and frost events.
Which of Yakima Valley’s sub-AVAs has the largest plantings? What are the growing conditions and styles of wine?
Red Mountain, the E of Yakima Valley. It’s relatively small but the most densely planted.
Vines are planted on SW facing slopes and the climate is amongst the warmest in WA.
Soils are poor in nutrients and this, with careful irrigation, produces low yields of intensely concentrates fruit.
Black dominates, especially Cab Sauv, with wines being ripe, full bodied and high alcohol, though a high diurnal range helps preserve acidity.
Which of Yakima Valley’s sub-AVAs also has sizeable plantings? Topography and varieties?
Rattlesnake Hills. Planted on S facing slopes of the Rattlesnake Hills at higher altitudes than much of the surrounding land, and temps are more moderate.
Riesling dominates, followed by Merlot and Cab Sauv.
Where is Horse Heaven Hills located? Size?
Between Yakima Valley AVA to the N and the Oregon border to the S.
6,500 ha planted, it produces 25% of the states production.
Which varieties are grown in Horse Heaven Hills? Profile and growing conditions?
Black grapes, especially Cab Sauv, Merlot and syrah, dominate at 66% of plantings.
Many vineyards are on S facing slopes, resulting in warm conditions and ripe, full-bodied wines, often with high alcohol.
White wines also tend t show ripe characs (eg stone fruit in Riesling).
The sloped topography coupled with Columbia River at the S border of the AVA providing strong winds, which protect from spring and autumn frosts, extend the growing season and reduce risk of disease.
Wahluke Slope AVA. Location, size, growing conditions and varieties?
Broadly in the centre of Columbia Valley AVA, has some of the warmest and driest conditions in the state.
3,600 ha under vine.
All vineyards are on S facing slopes maximising exposure.
Due to warm conditions red wines are mainly produced, especially Cab Sauv, Merlot and Syrah.
Soils are sandy and free draining, water availability is controlled through irrigation.
Sloped landscape and proximity to Columbia River ensures sufficient air flow, decreasing the risk of spring and autumn frosts and winter freeze.
Where is Walla Walla Valley AVA located? Size, production, topography and climate?
Multistate AVA in SE WA, with almost half its area in Oregon.
It is the fastest growing AVA. On the WA side, 705 ha are planted to grapes, and over 100 wineries are here.
Many vineyards are up in the NE corner in the Blue Mountain Foothills. W/ altitudes up to 600m, the E side of the AVA is cooler and wetter compared to the warmer, drier W side.
The topography does not allowed cool air to fall sufficiently from the Blue Mountain, so frost can be an issue.
What varieties are found in Walla Walla Valley?
Difference in climate allows a wide range to ripen: a range of Spanish, Italian and Rhone varieties are found.
The most planted are Cab Sauv, Merlot, Syrah, Cab Franc and Malbec, as well as Chard, Viognier and Semillon.
What is Vinea?
A wine growers alliance dedicated to sustainable practices found in Walla Walla Valley.
Puget Sound AVA. Location, climate, size and varieties?
NW corner of WA. The only AVA E of the Cascades.
Its boundaries are large, running along the Pacific from Canada to Olympia, but there’s only 42 ha under vine.
Warm and dry in summer, with mild, relatively wet winters, receiving 1500 mm per year.
Crosses created for cool climates dominate (Madeleine Angevine, Muller-Thurgau & Siegerrebe), PGris and PN are also grown.
What is the history and current state of production in WA?
2nd largest P state in USA, with a yearly volume of approx 1.5m hL.
Over the last 40 years wine has evolved from mostly Riesling to now a range of Bordeaux and Rhone varieties, alongside white.
10 wineries in 1975, approx 200 in 2000 to over 1,000 today.
Area under vine has doubled since 2000 to over 23,000 ha today.
Production is dominated by Ste. Michelle Wine Estates, which sells approx 74m L per annum.
What are the key markets for WA?
Most is sold in state, with only the largest wineries and iconic labels receiving nationwide distribution yet covering all 49 other states.
Exports account for a very small percentage of production, with mature markets being Canada, the UK and Japan.
Cellar door is a key route to market, and many P in E WA have cellar door facilities, office or winery close to Seattle to be nearer to customers.
