Discovering Washington’s Wine Legacy: The Columbia Valley AVA
Please enjoy wine responsibly, and remember that excessive alcohol consumption can have serious health risks.
I recently visited Southern Oregon and had some amazing wine tasting there. The lush vineyards and smooth reds left me wondering: what about Washington? Does our state have any hidden gems in its wine regions? In my search for answers, I stumbled upon a government booklet from 1986, published by the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms. It turns out that Washington has some pretty impressive American Viticultural Areas (AVAs), with the Columbia Valley being one of the most notable.
Established in 1984, the Columbia Valley AVA is a vast region spanning much of central Washington and extending into northern Oregon. According to the booklet, this area has nearly perfect conditions for grape growing.
this viticultural area experiences a growing season for over 150 days, and an average rainfall of 15 inches or less…The Columbia Valley is a large, treeless basin surrounding the Yakima, Snake and Columbia Rivers in Washington and Oregon.
It’s incredible how this government document captures a time when Washington’s wine industry was only beginning to gain recognition. Now, I’m more excited than ever to explore Washington’s wine regions and see how they compare to my recent adventure in Oregon.
United States. Bureau of Alcohol, T. (1986). U.S. viticultural areas. [Washington, D.C.]: Dept. of Treasury, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms.
Full text available via HathiTrust.
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