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Pacific Northwest

Contents
  1. Washington State
  2. Washington East of the Cascades
  3. Understanding Washington’s Vineyard Geology
  4. Wine History in Washington
  5. Washington Grape Varieties
  6. Washington AVAs
  7. Oregon
  8. Oregon AVAs
  9. Idaho

Washington State
Washington is the country’s second-largest producer of vinifera wines. While still in California’s shadow, Washington State provides 5% of the total US domestic wine output, and production continues to grow in leaps and bounds. State wine grape acreage has more than doubled in this century, rising from 24,000 acres in 1999 to over 60,000 acres in 2019. In 1999, then-WA Wine Commission Director Steve Burns announced that a new winery was opening its doors every 13 days in the state, and the growth rate has sustained: by 2020 the number of state wineries had jumped from 160 to over 1,000. 2016 was a record harvest—272,000 tons of fruit—but with the state adding an average of 2,500 acres of vines each year over the past decade, the record likely won’t last long.
Map of Washington State with wine regions labeled

For perspective, compare the entire state of Washington to California’s Napa Valley AVA: Washington has approximately 14,000 more acres of vineyard land and in 2019 produced about 42,000 more tons of fruit. And Napa Valley produces only 4% of California’s wines! Not only is Washington is a much smaller producer than California overall, but it has a narrower focus: the state lacks the giant bulk wine industry that drives California, instead placing emphasis on premium to luxury production. Washington also has a younger, less developed industry. Vineyards often comprise only a portion of a working farm’s activities, and a small minority of wineries are estate projects. Vineyard Manager Kent Waliser of Columbia Valley’s Sagemoor Vineyards puts it succinctly: “Wineries are not connected to the vineyards.” Many are even located in or around Seattle, far from the fruit itself, and most are small or medium-sized in scale, releasing fewer than 12,000 cases a year.
  • in reply to Jonathan Eichholz

    Thank you so much Jonathan!!

  • in reply to Juan David Quintero

    Hey Juan! It is a bit of a toss-up between Lower Long Tom and McMinnville. The important thing about these AVA's is the impact of wind on McMinnville and the solis from the watershed of Lower Long Tom. 

  • Is by any chance Lower Long Tom also the Westernmost nested AVA in the Willamette?

  • in reply to Alex Mares

    Thanks, Alex! The guide is updated. 

  • Worth noting that as of July 2024, Col Solare is entirely owned by Antinori

  • in reply to Vivian Mehnert

    Thanks, Vivian! The guide is updated. 

  • Under the Columbia Valley section, it says "Puget Sound and Columbia Gorge are the only AVAs in WA that are not contained within Columbia Valley." Lewis-Clark Valley AVA can also be added to this. :) 

  • in reply to Brandon Anderson

    Hey Brandon! The AVA is defined but its marine sediment soils. Per the Oregon Wine Board, " is comprised of coarse-grained ancient marine sediments that drain quickly, making it ideal for viticulture. The dominant soil series above the siltstone and sandstone parent material are Melbourne, Wellsdale, and Goodin with lesser influences of Dupee and Willakenzie." That being said, the Willamette is truly a patchwork of soils, so I wouldn't be surprised if there is a pocket here and there. 

  • in reply to Brandon Anderson

    Hey Brandon! I have reworded the above as this is about the Willamette instead of the whole state of Oregon. In the Willamette, Pinot Blanc is at 258 acres vs Viogner's 42 acres. Viogner is quite heavily planted in the Rogue Valley which helps anchor its place in the state's top 10 grapes. 

  • Another, very small thing to point out regarding the below quote in the White Wines of Willamette section

    "Riesling and Pinot Blanc are the state’s third and fourth most planted varieties,"

    Maybe this intended to say white varieties but that still wouldn't be correct according to the link below. The link states Viognier with more acreage than Pinot Blanc. 

    https://www.oregonwinepress.com/oregon-grapes-at-a-glance

    Thanks

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