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	It’s the Grapes! The grapes grown in the Pacific Northwest are among the best wine grapes grown in the world. Although grapes have been grown in northern California for over 150 years only recently have they been grown in British Columbia, Washington, Oregon and Idaho. Italian immigrants brought grape stock to the Walla Walla area in the 1850’s and home wine production and small wineries grew in the area until the US Government passed the prohibition laws which brought an end to wine production in Washington State. Although some of those early vines still exist in the Walla Walla area, the wine industry in Washington State was almost non-existent until the 1980’s
As recently as 1980 there were only 20 wineries in Washington State. Today there are over 460 wineries and nine Federally licensed AVA’s (American Viticultural Area) in Washington State today making it the nation’s second largest producer of wine. The ability of the State to produce such fine wine grapes has attracted worldwide attention bringing expertise from all over the world in wine making.. Even more interesting is the fact that Washington wine growers are fiercely independent and that independence has led many wine growers to research the industry and develop their own techniques to produce their wines. The result is a widely varied and unique wine industry.
Vineyards The new look for growing fruit	The industry employs more than 15,000 people in the state and is a $3 Billion part of the State’s economy. Grapes are the fourth largest fruit crop in the State. The largest concentration of vineyards is in Washington State’s Wine Country region. The region is made up of Benton, Franklin, Walla Walla, and Yakima Counties. Over 90 percent of the wine grapes grown in Washington State are grown in this region. Wine Regions The oldest appellation in Washington State is the Yakama Valley AVA (American Viticultural Area). AVA’s are licensed by
the Federal Government. They are a recognized unique terroir or area with similar climate, geography, and soil. The largest wine region in Washington State is the Columbia Valley AVA (American Viticultural Area). It includes the Horse Haven Hill, Red Mountain, Walla Walla, and Yakima Valley AVA’s within its boundaries. The Columbia Valley AVA includes the Columbia River Valley from Bonneville Dam up through the Tri-Cities, north to Wenatchee and even a portion of the area around Lake Roosevelt. Also included in the AVA is the Snake River Valley in Southwest Washington State to the Idaho Washington state line. The Puget Sound AVA is the only AVA in Washington State that is not east of the Cascade Mountains. Puget Sound’s climate is completely different from the climate in Eastern Washington.

American Viticultural Areas (AVA’s) of Washington State

Map Courtesy of the Washington Wine Commission

Washington Wine Commission

http://www.washingtonwine.org/

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