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