Washington Study Guide Flashcards
95% of Washington’s vineyards are located east of what mountain range? What does this mountain provide? What is necessary because of it?
Cascade Mountains
Provides a rain shadow effect
Irrigation
What is the climate of Eastern Washington classified as? What is the main vineyard concern here?
True continental with hot summers and cold winters
Frost is the main concern
What is the dominant soil type of Easter Washington? Where did this come from? On what soil type are a majority of the vineyards plated to?
Basalt overlaid by sediments deposited by the Missoula Floods
Majority of the vineyards are planted on silty loam soils derived from the flood-borne sediment
What is the largest AVA in the state of Washington? What % of Washington’s landmass does it cover?
Columbia Valley AVA
Covers 25% of Washington’s landmass
What is the name of the river basin that the Columbia Valley AVA follows?
The Columbia River Basin
What was Washington’s first approved AVA? When was this? What fraction of the state’s vineyards are located here?
Yakima Valley
1983
1/3 of the state’s vineyards are located here
What are the 3 nested AVAs of Yakima Valley AVA?
Snipes Mountain
Rattlesnake Hills
Red Mountain
What is the name of Washington’s smallest and most densely planted AVA? What is the star grape here?
Red Mountain
Cabernet Sauvginon
What AVA of Washington is shared with Oregon? What are the three most promising grapes here accounting for 80% of its current plantings?
Walla Walla Valley
Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Syrah
What is the main soil type of Walla Walla Valley AVA?
Basalt bedrock with thin alluvial topsoils and loess
What is the sub AVA of Walla Walla Valley whose soil has drawn it comparisons to Châteauneuf-du-Pape? What is the soil type?
Rocks of Milton-Freewater
Cobblestones
What are the top two white grapes planted in Washington?
Riesling and Chardonnay
What are the three most planted grapes in Washington?
Cabernet Sauvignon
Merlot
Riesling
The Willamette Valley is located between what two mountain ranges?
Coastal Range in the west
Cascade Mountains in the east
Who were the 4 pioneers of Pinot Noir in the Willamette Valley? Who was the first?
David Lett (first)
Richard Coury
Dick Erath
Dick Ponzi
Which wine brought vindication to the pioneers of Pinot Noir in the Willamette Valley?
1975 Eyrie Vineyards South Block Reserve
When did Joseph Drouin establish an estate in the Willamette Valley? What is it called? What sub AVA is it located within?
1987
Domaine Drouhin
Dundee Hills
How does Pinot Noir from the Willamette Valley compare to Burgundy and California style?
Stepping stone between the two being lighter in style and earthier than California, but riper and more forward than Burgundy
What are the 6 sub AVAs of the Willamette Valley?
Dundee Hills Eola-Amity Hills Ribbon Ridge McMinnville Yamhill-Carlton District Chehalem Mountains
What is the dominant soil type of the Dundee Hills? Describe it
Jory, well-drained soil series of volcanic origin is common in the “red hills” of the Dundee Hills
What is the dominant soil type of the Ribbon Ridge and other western AVAs within the Willamette Valley?
Willakenzie, sedimentary soils
What are the two main soil types of the Willamette Valley?
Jory:
Clay soils
creates more elegant styles of Pinot Noir
Willakenzie:
sedimentary
creates denser wines with darker fruits
What is the name of the gap in the Coastal Mountains that funnels cool air into the Willamette Valley?
Which sub AVAs receive the most influence from this?
What styles of Pinot Noir does this create?
Van Duzer Corridor
McMinnville and Eola-Amity Hills
Creates more tannic styles
Which AVA in Willamette Valley AVA is known for a high presence of north-facing sites and is considered among the coolest in the valley?
Chehalem Mountains
