Washington State Flashcards by Charlie Geoghegan

Most Washington vineyards located within the confines of what AVA?

Columbia Valley AVA (eastern part of state)

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What blocks Pacific weather from Columbia Valley AVA? So what?

Cascade Mountains
=> dry, warm conditions

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Washington State: what are conditions like on western side of Cascade mountains?

Pacific influence
Wetter climate than eastern side (Columbia Valley AVA)
Puget Sound AVA is here

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What action in 1903 “Unlocked the dormant potential” of Washington State as a wine region?

Large-scale irrigation, from meltwater off the Cascade Mountains

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First commercial sized plantings in Washington when?

1960s

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House Bill 100 (Washington State)

Washington legislature pass bill to overturn 30 years of protectionism. allow import of wines from out of state and country

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House Bill 100 ended protectionism and allowed wine imports into Washington State. So what?

Producers face economic threat!
Industry needed to up its game
-> Andre Tschelistcheff consultant at Ch Ste Michelle and elsewhere
Quality improves

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Chateu Ste. Michelle accounts for what % of Washington State production

Well over 50%!!!

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Significant producers in Washington State

Chateau Ste Michelle (50% of production of entire state)
Quilceda Creek
Cayuse Vineyards

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More black or white grapes in Washington?

Black 58%

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Most planted grape in Washington?

Cabernet Sauvignon (26% of plantings)

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Top 5 grapes in Washington

Cabernet Sauvignon
Merlot
Chardonnay
Riesling
Syrah

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Washington is warm, sunny and dry with cold nights. So what?

Grapes with ripe fruit flavours
Sometimes high alcohol
Medium (+) to high acidity

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Comment on oak use in Washington

often a high % of new oak
some producers using older oak or larger vessels (particularly for Syrah)

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Riesling style in Washington?

Off-dry
10-15g/L
some experiments with drier or even sweeter styles (botrytis or ice wine)

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Columbia Valley AVA covers approx what proportion of Washington State?

one-third

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What % of Washington’s vineyards are within Columbia Valley AVA?

99%

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Smaller AVAs within Columbia Valley include…

Yakima Valley
Red Mountain
Horse Heaven Hills
Wahluke Slope
Rattlesnake Hills
Walla Walla Valley

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Shelter of the Cascade Range does what for Columbia Valley AVA?

Protects from Pacific
-> arid, desert-like area

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Climate in Columbia Valley AVA (Washington State)

Continental with hot summers
Rapid cooling in autumn and winter

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Columbia Valley AVA has latitude of 45-48N. So what?

Daylight hours are long in growing season
One hour longer on average than California!

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Hot summer in Columbia Valley AVA does what to sugar accumulation? And then what?

Rapid accumulation during summer
Much cooler autumn temperatures -> flavours and tannins develop as sugar accumulation slows

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Hot summers in Columbia Valley AVA make climate change a concern. So what?

Growers looking for cooler sites

Soils in Columbia Valley AVA? So what?

Complex basalt bedrock withs andy, silty loess and alluvial topsoils
Ridges and anticlines
=> slopes and expositions etc
=> sub-AVAs reflect this nuance in soil and topography

Columbia Valley: not much rain, and soils are free-draining and low in nutrients. So what?

Irrigation is necessary Water from Columbia River, its tributaries and underground aquifers Drip irrigation and overhead spraying

Sandy soils in Columbia Valley mean what for planting decisions?

Low risk of phylloxera Growers can plant vines on their own roots

Arid conditions and cold winters in Columbia Valley mean what for disease/pest pressure? So what?

Pressure is low Reduced need for spraying and pesticides

Most planted grape variety in Columbia Valley AVA?

Cabernet Sauvignon

Washington's oldest AVA?

Yakima Valley AVA

Land under vine in Yakima Valley AVA

7,600ha Supplies one-third of Washington's production

Largest sub-AVA of Columbia Valley?

Yakima Valley AVA

Most planted variety in Yakima Valley AVA? Why?

Chardonnay AVA has cooler sites suited to white grapes

Frosts and winter freeze a risk in Columbia Valley (including Yakima Valley AVA). So what?

Growers plant on slopes to mitigate risk

Sub-AVAs of Yakima Valley AVA?

Red Mountain AVA Rattlesnake Hills AVA Snipes Mountain AVA (note Yakima Valley is itself a sub-AVA of Columbia Valley AVA)

Red Mountain AVA known for what grape/wine style?

Cabernet Sauvignon Ripe, full body High alcohol Large diurnal range => acidity

Most planted grape in Rattlesnake Hills AVA?

Riesling!

Where is Horse Heaven Hills AVA located?

Part of Columbia Valley AVA sits between Yakima Valley (to north) and Columbia River and Washington-Oregon border (to south)

Horse Heaven Hills has 6,500ha under vine. Put that in context!

Accounts for 25% of Washington's total grape production

Land under vine in Horse Heaven Hills

6,500ha 25% of Washington's total grape production

More black or white grapes in Horse Heaven Hills AVA?

Black 66% Cabernet SAuvignon, Merlot and Syrah

Horse Heaven Hills has a lot of south-facing slopes. So what?

Warm adn sunny conditions Ripe, full bodied reds with high alcohol Whites with ripe fruit (stone fruit in Riesling)

What protects Horse Heaven Hills AVA from spring frosts?

WIND! Sloped topography and Columbia River cause strong winds

What impact does wind have on Horse Heaven Hills AVA?

Reduce frost risk extend growing season reduces disease pressure

Wahluke Slope AVA is one of Washington's warmest sites. Why? So what?

Gentle south-facing slope -> max sun exposrue Warm conditions -> red wines: Cab, Merlot, Syrah

Walla Walla Valley AVA shared between which two states? What % in each?

Oregon and Washington Slightly more in Wash but broadly 50-50

Walla Walla Valley AVA has a lot of differences in climate, altitude etc. within it. So what?

Variety of grapes can ripen. Cabernet Sauvignon, Italian, Spanish and Rhone varieties and many others

Land under vine in Puget Sound AVA

42 ha tiny!

Name the only Washington AVA west of the Cascade Mountains?

Puget Sound AVA

Climate in Puget Sound AVA

Warm and dry in summer Mild, relatively wet winter (1,500mm rain)

What kind of grapes dominate in Puget Sound AVA?

Hybrids! Madelein Angevine, Muller Thurgau, Siegerrebe Also Pinot Noir and Riesling

Washington State ranks where in US wine production volume?

2nd biggest

How has Washington wine developed over last 40 years?

Different grapes: Evolved from mostly Riesling to now: Brodeauxa dn Rhone varieties Big expansion: 10 wineries in 1975, 200 in 2000 and now 1,000!

How big is Ste Michelle Wine Estates?

massive well over 50% of Washington production 74million L

Most Washington wine sold where?

within the state only biggest wienries and iconic labels export (other states and export countries)

Mature export markets for Washington State?

Canada, UK, Japan