WSET D3 - Washington State Flashcards
Summarise the history of Washington State.
Extreme north-west mainland US. Majority located within boundaries of Columbia Valley AVA in eastern part. Here Cascade Mountains block wet Pacific weather create dry, warm conditions. Smaller number located to west of Cascade Mountains, in cooler, wetter Puget Sound AVA.
Large-scale irrigation, from meltwater off Cascade Mountains, began in eastern Washington in 1903, unlocking dormant potential of the land and sunny yet arid climate. Immigrants from Italy and Germany planted homeland varieties in Yakima and Columbia Valleys and expanded rapidly with first annual Columbia River Valley Grape Carnival held in 1910.
5 years after Prohibition repealed, there were over 40 wineries but first commercial-scale plantings didn’t begin until 1960s. Biggest leap forward in 1969, Washington legislature passed House Bill 100, ending over 30 years protectionism and allowing import, notably California and overseas.
Faced with such threat, industry quickly needed to improve and aided by advice from legendary Californian winemaker André Tchelistcheff, who already advising Ste. Michelle Vintners on producing premium wines from V. vinifera. This company, founded in 1934, became Chateau Ste. Michelle in 1976 now accounts for over half state’s production. Other significant producers - Quilceda Creek and Cayuse Vineyards.
Grape varieties.
Wide range (almost 70 varieties), without one being particularly dominant. Slightly more black grapes (58%). Top five varieties are Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay, Riesling and Syrah.
Winemaking and wine styles.
Warm, sunny, dry conditions with cold nights lead to ripe fruit flavours and sometimes high alcohol but often with M (+) to H acidity. Often high proportions new oak, though number of producers using older or larger oak vessels, particularly for Syrah. Proportion whole bunch fermentation or stem inclusion may also used for Syrah.
Riesling was most planted but gradually decreasing. General style is off dry, around 10–15 g/L residual sugar. Recent years, experiment more with drier and sweeter styles, either botrytised or made like ice wine. Although cool fermentation in stainless steel is standard practice, producers use variety of additional techniques including skin contact, ambient yeast, lees ageing, old oak vessels.
Summarise Columbia Valley AVA.
Very large cross-border AVA covers 1/3 Washington State. 99% Washington’s vineyard plantings. Encompasses several smaller AVAs Yakima Valley, Red Mountain, Horse Heaven Hills, Wahluke Slope, Rattlesnake Hills and Walla Walla Valley have largest plantings. Although many fall within a sub-AVA, Columbia Valley AVA can be used by producers who either have vineyards outside sub-AVA or wish to blend across different sub-AVAs.
Shelter provided by Cascade Range creates arid desert-like area receives 150–250mm rainfall. Continental with hot summers, rapid cooling in autumn and cold winters. 45–48°N, daylight hours during growing season are long – average one hour longer each day than many California vineyards. Sugar accumulates rapidly in grapes during summer but much cooler autumn allow flavours and tannins develop as sugar accumulation slows. High diurnal range retain acidity. Given hot summer, climate change is a concern and growers beginning look for cooler sites.
Complex soils of basalt bedrock with sandy, silty loess and alluvial topsoils are result of several cycles of Missoula flood events, volcanic activity, and glacial movement. South-central Washington, number of ridges (anticlines) can be found where bedrock rises towards surface creating sloped sites with variations in aspect and altitude. Many sub-AVAs based on these topographical features. Soils are free draining and low
in nutrients. With little rainfall, irrigation essential in majority sites. Water sourced from Columbia River and its tributaries, together with deep underground aquifers. Drip irrigation most common, with some using overhead spraying.
Low phylloxera risk due to sandy soils
provide potential to plant on their own roots. Low disease and pest pressure, due to arid conditions and very cold winters, reduces pesticides. Frosts and winter freeze are main hazards, with vineyards planted on slopes less risk due drainage of cold air.
CS most planted, followed by Merlot, Chardonnay, Riesling and Syrah.
Summarise Yakima Valley AVA.
Oldest appellation. Largest sub-appellation in Columbia Valley AVA, 1/3 state’s production. Climate and soils same as Columbia Valley. However spread over large area, includes number of cooler sites most suited to white varieties, and warmer sites more suited to black varieties. Most planted variety is Chardonnay, followed by CS, Merlot, Syrah, and Riesling. Frosts and winter freeze can be hazardous in valley floor so many vineyards planted on slopes.
3 sub-AVAs – Red Mountain, Rattlesnake Hills, and Snipes Mountain, all have vineyards on elevated ridges enable air drainage and reduce freeze and frost.
Red Mountain AVA: east Yakima Valley, largest plantings. Relatively small, but one of most densely planted areas in the state. Vines planted on south-west facing slope and climate is amongst the warmest in Washington. Soils are poor together with careful irrigation, produces low yields concentrated fruit. Black varieties dominate, particularly CS and produce ripe, full-bodied wines, often with high alcohol. However large diurnal range retain acidity.
Rattlesnake Hills AVA: on south- facing slopes of Rattlesnake Hills at higher altitudes than much of surrounding land, temperatures here are more temperate. Riesling most planted, followed by Merlot and CS.
Horse Heaven Hills AVA: Yakima Valley AVA to north, Columbia River and Washington-Oregon border to south. Black grapes, especially CS, Merlot and Syrah, Chardonnay and Riesling are most planted white grapes. With many on south facing slopes, warm and sunny lead to ripe, full-bodied reds, often with high alcohol. Whites also tend to show ripe fruit (e.g. stone fruit in Riesling). Sloped topography together with Columbia River at southern border both cause strong winds, protects vines from spring and autumn frosts, extending potential growing season, and reduces disease pressure.
Wahluke Slope: centre of Columbia Valley AVA, has some warmest and driest conditions in state. All vineyards on gentle south-facing slope maximizing sun exposure. Due to warm conditions mainly red wines, particularly CS, Merlot and Syrah. Soils are sandy and free-draining and water availability to vine is almost entirely controlled through irrigation.
Sloped landscape and proximity to Columbia River ensures adequate air flow, reducing frost and winter freeze.
Summarise Walla Walla Valley AVA.
A multistate AVA, almost half in Oregon. Many located in northeast corner in Blue Mountain foothills (up to 600 m), eastern side cooler and wetter compared to warmer, drier western side. Differences in climate allow wide range varieties to ripen. Topography does not permit cool air drain properly from Blue Mountain foothills and so spring and autumn frosts can be risk.
Range of Italian, Spanish, and Rhône varieties, most planted are CS, Merlot, Syrah, Cabernet Franc and Malbec, as well as Chardonnay, Viognier and Semillon. The region has a wine growers alliance dedicated to sustainable practices called Vinea.
Summarise Puget Sound AVA.
Northwest corner, only AVA west of Cascade Mountain range. Its boundaries are large, as it runs along Pacific Ocean, from Canada down to Olympia but only 42 ha planted to grapes.
Climate is warm and dry in summer, with mild, relatively wet winters, up to 1,500 mm rain. Although crosses created for cool climates predominate (Madeleine Angevine, Müller-Thurgau, Siegerrebe), Pinot Gris and Pinot Noir also grown.
Wine business.
2nd largest. Over last 40 years, evolved
from mostly Riesling to range of Bordeaux and Rhône varieties, alongside white varieties. Production dominated by one large company, Ste. Michelle Wine Estates.
Most sold in state, with only largest wineries and more iconic labels receiving nationwide distribution yet covering all 49 other states. Exports very small: Canada, UK and Japan. Cellar door is important route to market and many located in eastern Washington have cellar door facilities, office or winery facilities close to Seattle to be nearer to customers.
