| When people think of the wines of the northwest, | | | | Washington. |
| chances are they ignore Washington and think | | | | On the white side of things, eastern Washington is |
| mainly of Oregon. With its penchant for Pinot Gris, | | | | best known for Chardonnays, Rieslings, and |
| Pinot Blanc, and Pinot Noir, Oregon has seemingly | | | | Sauvignon Blancs. However, Chenin Blanc, Fruit |
| left Washington state Pinot Poor. Yet, Oregon is | | | | Wines, Semillon, and Sparkling Wines are also |
| not the only state in this upper region capable of | | | | gaining in popularity. |
| making wine, Pinots or otherwise. Washington, | | | | The conditions of eastern Washington may seem |
| over the past decade and a half, has developed | | | | like a winemakers dream, but it is not without its |
| into a major wine player and now has more than | | | | faults. While viticulturists reap the benefits of a |
| the ability to serve as Oregon's tag team partner. | | | | regular growing season and grapes that attain |
| Move over timber, the northwest has a new | | | | perfect ripening, they must also deal with fits of |
| baby. | | | | weather. Mother Nature occasionally wrecks |
| Washington Wine is perhaps the tastiest alliteration | | | | havoc on this area with winter freezes, leaving |
| in vocabulary today (sorry, pickled peppers, you | | | | wine growers to label her a "drama queen" and |
| were a close second). Full of flavor, concentration, | | | | also destroying portions of vineyards. Sometimes, |
| and body, Washington Wines are giving everyone | | | | it takes several years to bring a vineyard back to |
| a reason to wash down their steak with a bottle | | | | full production. |
| of Merlot. Yet, it wasn't always like this. | | | | Taking leads from its southern competition, |
| The first grapes in Washington were planted in | | | | Washington is in the middle of creating a tourism |
| the late 1800's. Quite literally late bloomers, they | | | | industry that parallels Napa Valley. However, |
| didn't fully develop into greatness until the early | | | | Washington has found itself tangled in a vine of |
| 1990's when people began to realize three | | | | obstacles. These include the remoteness of many |
| important things: Washington possessed the same | | | | of the vineyards - as many of them are located |
| latitude as famous European wine regions, | | | | in the proverbial "middle of nowhere" - and lack of |
| Washington had - on average - two more hours | | | | lodging (people may find themselves all wined up |
| of sunlight a day than California, and Washington | | | | with nowhere to go). The lack of transportation |
| contained areas shielded by the Cascade | | | | hubs is also a factor. Nonetheless, the Washington |
| Mountains. This shield left eastern Washington | | | | Wine Tourism Task Force was created in 2000. |
| under a geographical umbrella, providing vineyards | | | | And so, Operation: Wine and Dine, continues. |
| with nearly ideal climate. | | | | If a Napa Valley-like industry is eventually created, |
| For these reasons, winemakers began to make | | | | it would likely benefit Washington on astounding |
| wine in the eastern portion of the state. In fact, | | | | levels, adding a new element to the economy, |
| the decision was made to plant eight out of nine | | | | creating knowledge of the wine industry, and |
| viticultural areas in eastern Washington (and four | | | | giving Seattle - the Washington city where |
| out of five dentists agreed). The sole western | | | | tourists tend to flock - some much needed |
| wine region is Puget Sound. Laying west of the | | | | space….needle. |
| Cascade Mountains, it spends its day producing | | | | As of right now, Washington will just have to be |
| grapes that excel in cold climate - such as | | | | happy with where it stands, showing the world |
| Madeline Sylvaner, Muller-Thurgua, and Siegerrebe | | | | that Washington mountains aren't the only thing |
| - and its nights singing Celine Dion's "All by Myself." | | | | capable of erupting. Already second in varietal |
| The eastern viticultural areas include Columbia | | | | wine production in the US, this blossoming industry |
| Valley, Yakima Valley, Red Mountain, Walla Walla, | | | | has over 31,000 acres dedicated to vineyards, |
| Horse Heaven Hills, Wahluke, Rattlesnake Hills, and | | | | and 120,000 grapes harvested each year. |
| Columbia Gorge. These areas are famous most | | | | Washington also ships its product to over 40 |
| notably for two grapes: Merlot and Cabernet. | | | | nations, giving us Americans the assurance that at |
| Labeled as among the best red wines in the | | | | least one of our Washingtons is on good terms |
| world, to some people no Merlots and Cabernets | | | | with the rest of the world. |
| can compare to the ones made in eastern | | | | |