USA - Washington State Flashcards
What are the two major AVAs, where are they located and what are the climatic influences?
- Columbia Valley AVA
- Eastern part
- Cascade Mountains block the wet Pacific weather
- Dry and warm conditions
- Puget Sound AVA
- West of the Cascade Mountains
- Smaller number of vineyards and wineries
- -> cooler and wetter conditions
Name three important producers
- Chateau Ste. Michelle (>50% of production)
- Quilceda Creek
- Cayuse Vineyards
How is it possible to farm the sunny, arid Columbia Valley?
Large-scale irrigation, from meltwater off the Cascade Mountains
Roughly, how many different varieties are planted and what are the top 5 (incl. %)?
- About 70
- Cabernet Sauvignon (26%)
- Merlot (18%)
- Chardonnay (17%)
- Riesling (17%)
- Syrah (8%)
What are grape growing conditions and what is the resulting typical style of wine? (aromas, acidity, alcohol, oak)
- Warm, sunny, dry conditions
- Cold nights
- Ripe fruit flavors
- Medium(+) to high acidity
- Sometimes high alcohol
- Often high proportions of new oak
Comment on the trends with Riesling wines
- Riesling was the most planted variety
- Gradually decreasing
- General style is off dry
- In recent years, more experiment with drier and sweeter styles (botrytised or ice wine)
- Mostly stainless steel, but additional techniques are used
Columbia Valley AVA
How much of Washington State’s vineyard area is planted here?
99%
Columbia Valley AVA
What wines use this AVA for labeling?
- Producers with vineyards outside of a sub-AVA
- For blends across different sub-AVAs
Columbia Valley AVA
What are the five sub-AVAs with the largest plantings?
- Yakima Valley AVA
- Red Mountain AVA
- Horse Heaven Hills AVA
- Wahluke Slope AVA
- Rattlesnake Hills AVA
- Walla Walla Valley AVA
Columbia Valley AVA
What is the climate, climatic influences, latitude and what is the effect on grape growing?
- Shelter through Cascade Range -> desert-like area
- Rainfall of 150-250mm
- Continental climate
- Latitude of 45-48°N -> long daylight hours
- Rapid sugar accumulation that slows down with lower autumn temps -> flavors and tannins develop
- High diurnal -> retains acidity
Columbia Valley AVA
What is a growing concern?
Climate change, as it is already very hot in summer
Columbia Valley AVA
What are the soils and what does that mean regarding irrigation?
- Complex soils: basalt bedrock with sandy, silty loess and alluvial topsoils (from Missoula flood events, volcanic activity, and glacial movement)
- Free draining and low in nutrients
- -> irrigation essential for most sites (mostly drip irrigation)
- -> Water from Columbia River and its tributaries
Columbia Valley AVA
What diseases and hazards have low and high risk?
- Low risk:
- Phylloxera due to sandy soils -> potentially vines with own roots
- Disease and pest pressure due to arid conditions and very cold winters
- High risk:
- Frosts and winter freeze (lower risk on slopes)
Columbia Valley AVA
What are the most planted varieties?
- Cabernet Sauvignon (most planted)
- Merlot
- Chardonnay
- Riesling
- Syrah
Columbia Valley AVA - Yakima Valley AVA
How large is it? What is its area under vine and production?
- Largest sub-appellation in Columbia Valley AVA
- 7,600 ha under vine
- 1/3 of state’s production
Columbia Valley AVA - Yakima Valley AVA
How does the climate compare to the overall climate in Columbia Valley?
- Mostly similar
- Some cooler sites that are well suited to white varieties
- Some warmer sites more suited to black varieties
Columbia Valley AVA - Yakima Valley AVA
What are the 3 sub-AVAs?
- Red Mountain AVA
- Rattlesnake Hills AVA
- Snipes Mountain AVA
Columbia Valley AVA - Yakima Valley AVA
What are the top varieties in descending order?
- Chardonnay
- Cabernet Sauvignon
- Merlot
- Syrah
- Riesling
Columbia Valley AVA - Yakima Valley AVA - Red Mountain AVA
Where are vineyards located, what is the soil, and what are the effects on grape growing?
- South-west facing slope
- One of the warmest climates in Washington
- Soils have low fertility
- Irrigation is carefully controlled
- -> low yields of concentrated fruit
Columbia Valley AVA - Yakima Valley AVA - Red Mountain AVA
What type of varieties dominate, which is the most important variety and what is the typical style? (aromas, acidity, body, alcohol)
- Black grapes
- Cabernet Sauvignon
- Ripe fruit
- Retained acidity (diurnal range)
- Full body
- High alcohol
Columbia Valley AVA - Yakima Valley AVA - Rattlesnake Hills AVA
Where are the vineyards located and what is the rough climate?
- South-facing slopes
- Higher altitudes (than surrounding land in Yakima)
- More moderate temperatures
Columbia Valley AVA - Yakima Valley AVA - Rattlesnake Hills AVA
What are the most important varieties?
- Riesling (most planted)
- Merlot
- Cabernet Sauvignon
Columbia Valley AVA - Horse Heaven Hills AVA
Where is it located?
- Yakima Valley AVA to the north
- Columbia River and Washington-Oregon border to the south
Columbia Valley AVA - Horse Heaven Hills AVA
How much is planted to wine and what is the production?
- 6,500 ha
- 25% of Washington’s total production
Columbia Valley AVA - Horse Heaven Hills AVA
What is the black/white grape ratio and what are the most planted varieties?
- Black (66%)
- Cabernet Sauvignon
- Merlot
- Syrah
- White (34%)
- Chardonnay
- Riesling
Columbia Valley AVA - Horse Heaven Hills AVA
Where are vineyards located and what is the effect on the finale wine? (aromas, body, alcohol)
- South facing slopes
- Warm and sunny conditions
- Ripe fruit (white wines)
- Full body and high alcohol (red wines)
Columbia Valley AVA - Horse Heaven Hills AVA
Comment on diseases and hazards
- Strong winds through sloped topography and Columbia River
- Protect from spring and autumn frosts
- Extend growing season
- Reduce disease pressure
Columbia Valley AVA - Wahluke Slope AVA
Where is it located and what is the climate?
- Center of Columbia Valley AVA
- Some of the warmest and driest conditions in the state
Columbia Valley AVA - Wahluke Slope AVA
What is the area under vine?
3,600 ha
Columbia Valley AVA - Wahluke Slope AVA
Where are vineyards located and what is the influence on grape growing?
- Gentle south-facing slopes
- Maximizing sun exposure
- Warm conditions
Columbia Valley AVA - Wahluke Slope AVA
What are the main varieties?
- Cabernet Sauvignon
- Merlot
- Syrah
Columbia Valley AVA - Wahluke Slope AVA
What is the soil and what about irrigation?
- Sandy soils
- Free-draining
- Water availability almost entirely through irrigation
Columbia Valley AVA - Wahluke Slope AVA
What about frost and winter freeze?
- Low frost and winter freeze risk
- Due to sloped landscape and proximity to the Columbia River (adequate air flow)
Columbia Valley AVA - Walla Walla Valley AVA
Where are vineyards located and what is the climate based on location of vineyards?
- Many vineyards located in northeast corner
- Altitudes up to 600m
- Eastern side: cooler and wetter
- Western side: warmer and drier
Columbia Valley AVA - Walla Walla Valley AVA
What can be a risk and why?
- Spring and autumn frosts
- Topography does not permit cool air to drain properly from the Blue Mountain foothills
Columbia Valley AVA - Walla Walla Valley AVA
What are the main varieties grown?
- Wide range: Italian, Spanish, and Rhône varieties
- Most grown black
- Cabernet Sauvignon
- Merlot
- Syrah
- Cabernet Franc
- Malbec
- Most grown white
- Chardonnay
- Viognier
- Semillon
Puget Sound AVA
How much is planted to vine?
ONLY 42 ha
Puget Sound AVA
What is the climate and rainfall?
- Warm and dry in summer
- Mild and wet winters
- Up to 1,500 mm of rain
Puget Sound AVA
What are the main varieties?
- Crosses created for cool climates predominate (Madeleine Angevine, Müller-Thurgau, Siegerrebe)
- But also
- Pinot Gris
- Pinot Noir
What is the trend regarding number of wineries and area under vine?
- Rapid growth in both from 2000 to today
- Wineries: from 200 to 1,000
- Area under vine: now over 23,000 ha
How much is exported and what are main export markets?
- Very small amount
- Canada, UK, Japan
