Washington Viticulture
Washington’s premium wine industry began in the 1960s. The majority of the state’s wine grapes are planted east of the Cascade Range in the Columbia Valley appellation, which encompasses the Yakima Valley and Walla Walla appellations. The climate and soils produce grapes with intense fruit flavors and high natural acidity.
Location
Washington's vineyards straddle the 46th and 47th parallels, at approximately the same latitude as Bordeaux and Burgundy.
Sunlight
Because of its northerly location, Washington receives up to two more hours of sunlight per day during the growing season than California's North Coast. More sun means more flavor development in the grapes.
Low Rainfall
It can pour in Seattle, which has an average rainfall of 46“ per year, but east of the Cascades annual rainfall averages less than 10 inches. The Cascade Range creates a rain shadow that protects Eastern Washington from Pacific storms and allows for warm, dry days during the growing season. Low precipitation and low humidity minimize rot, mildew, disease and pest problems in the vineyards.
Water Management
Growers control the amount of moisture the vines receive during the growing season. This provides for better canopy management and controls berry size to produce concentrated flavorful grapes. Growers irrigates only when necessary to dial in and concentrate the flavor balance in the grapes. The Columbia, Yakima and Snake rivers provide plenty of water via an extensive aqueduct system.
Daily Temperatures
Daily temperatures can fluctuate as much as 40-50 degrees during the growing season. This swing allows the retention of the grape's natural acidity and fresh fruit flavors which produce lively and fresh wines. Chilly nights (40-45 degrees F) lock in the acids and flavors; warm (but not-too-hot) days (85-90 degrees F) ensure that the grapes ripen slowly without excessive sugar development.
Seasonal Temperatures
The Columbia Valley's cold winters force grapevines into dormancy. Once or twice a decade, sub-zero temperatures can damage some vines in the coolest parts of the valley. However, careful and on-going matching of grape varieties to vineyard sites lessens the impact. Vines are planted on their own roots rather than on rootstock, so in the event of severe winter damage, the vine can be trained up from the root system and produce a crop the next year. At this time the root louse, Phylloxera is not a problem in Washington, probably because the cold winters and sandy soils slow its spread.
Soils
About 15,000 years ago a series of cataclysmic geologic flooding events occurred that allowed the formation of present day soils in eastern Washington. The floods converged on the Pasco Basin and were slowed by constriction of the Wallula Gap before draining into the Columbia River. The constriction caused back flooding of local rivers and valley basins and deposited fine grain slack water sediments (silt/sand) over the surrounding area. The floods deposited immense gravel bars and ice-rafted huge granite boulders (Erratics) to higher elevations.
The resultant slack water deposited sediments and the subsequent wind-blown loess sediments make up the majority of the present day soils and are the backbone of agriculture in all of eastern Washington. These sandy loam soils are very well drained—and a perfect medium for grapevines.
Regional Diversity
The Columbia Valley covers 18,000 square miles and provides a huge range of geographical and climatic conditions for grape growing. This diversity creates distinctive fruit characteristics from individual sites and offers a myriad of stylistic options to winemakers.
Grape Variety
Because of the diverse growing conditions in Eastern Washington, a large number of grape varieties do well here. When planted in the right locations, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Semillon, Pinot Gris, Chenin Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, Lemberger, Cabernet Franc, Sangiovese, and others thrive.
Columbia Valley Sub Regions
The majority of vinifera vines in the Columbia Valley are own-rooted and propagated from virus-free stock. The shallow soils range from loamy sand to silty loam. Most of the thin veneer and basalt bedrock was wind-deposited, with some alluvial and minor volcanic deposits. Precipitation averages less than 10 inches a year, with most of the rainfall and snow melt coming between November and April; most vineyards require supplemental irrigation. Periodic cold episodes in mid-winter can damage vines, but the warm daytime temperatures (85- 95 F) and cool nights (55-65 F) during the growing season promote slow, even ripening and the retention of natural acidity.
Hogue Cellars sources fruit from throughout the Columbia Valley from sites where the grower has managed to match the correct grape variety and clone with the specific terroir of the vineyard. Within the vast Columbia Valley are three BATF-recognized viticultural regions—Yakima Valley and Walla Walla—and a number of distinctive sub-regions, including Tri-Cities, Wahluke Slope, and Horse Heaven Hills.
Yakima Valley
Focus varieties: Chardonnay, Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc, and Chenin Blanc; and to a lesser extent, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Lemberger. There is recent interest in Pinot Grigio and Syrah. Because of Yakima's cool microclimate, northern European varieties excel and Bordeaux and southern European varieties have more demanding site requirements.
- Located in south-central WA between 46:15’ and 46:30’ N latitude
- First WA region in which wine grapes were commercially planted (1930s)
- First approved viticultural appellation in the state (1983)
- Vineyard elevations range from 600 to 1,300 feet, with the majority around 1,000 feet
- Region is considered “cool,” with typical heat units around 2,500 (high Region I to low Region II by UC Davis classification).
- High quality irrigation water flows through a canal system from reservoirs located in the Cascades
Walla Walla
Focus varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, and Sangiovese; the later-ripening red varieties tend to excel due to higher heat units and heavier soils
- Located in southeastern WA between 45:45’ and 46:15’ N latitude
- Approved as a viticultural appellation in 1984
- Grapes first planted in 1970s; most of the current acreage has been planted since 1995,between Walla Walla and Milton-Freewater in Oregon
- Total acreage for the area is approximately 800
- Vineyard elevations are between 900 and 1,100 feet
- Walla Walla is considered “warm” with heat units between 2,800 and 3,100 (high Region II,low Region III).
Tri-Cities
Focus varieties: Chardonnay, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Sauvignon Blanc, with some Syrah. Because of the warmer growing season, emphasis is on Bordeaux-style varieties.
- Located in south-central WA between Yakima and Walla Walla appellations and between46:00’ and 46:15’ N latitude, at the confluence of the Yakima, Columbia and Snake rivers
- The cities of Richland, Kennewick and Pasco (the Tri-Cities) surround this confluence
- Vineyards are located primarily north and east of Pasco
- Many vineyards date to the early 1970s, and the remainder were planted in the 1980s
- Vineyard elevations range between 400 and 800 feet
- The area is considered “warm” (high Region II) with slightly lower heat units than Walla Walla but warmer than Yakima Valley
Wahluke Slope
Focus varieties: Chardonnay, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon, with some Sauvignon Blanc,and Syrah
- Located northwest of Tri-Cities between 46:45’ and 47:00’ N latitude
- The first grapes were planted in the early 1980s
- Most plantings are near the town of Mattawa at the western end of the slope, at an elevation of approximately 1,000 feet
- The area is considered “very warm” with heat units exceeding 3,000 every year (Region III)
- Soils vary between loamy sand and silt loam, depending on the proximity to the Columbia River
- As with Walla Walla and Tri-Cities, higher heat units ensure better ripening with Bordeaux varieties and favor Rhone varieties
- Wahluke tends to have moderate winter temperatures, making yields more reliable
Horse Heaven Hills
Focus varieties: Earlier plantings included Chardonnay, Riesling, Gewürztraminer, Sauvignon Blanc, and Cabernet Sauvignon; since 1990, the focus has been on Chardonnay, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon
- Located south of Yakima Valley along the north side of the Columbia River between The Dalles and Wallula Gap, between 45:45’ and 46:00’ N latitude
- Grapes first planted in late 1970s; 1990s brought major plantings on Canoe Ridge, Zephyr Ridge, and Alder Ridge
- Most plantings are on a ridge system that runs along the north side of the Columbia River,with elevations between 600 and 1,000 feet; there are more plantings farther north of the river at an elevation of 1,000 feet
- Heat is variable, but generally “warm” with 2,800 heat units
- Soils are sandy and variable in depth