11/15/2013 OLLI Wine Class Washington State November 1, 2013 History • Earliest grape vines in 1825 at Fort Vancouver by Hudson Bay Co. • First wines produced by Germans and Italians in 1860’s and 1870’s (Cinsault) • Shut down during Prohibition from 1917- 1933 • Nawico and Pommerelle. first wineries after prohibition ended (merged; later Chateau Ste. Michelle) • Produced sweet wine from Concord grapes 1 11/15/2013 History (cont.) • 1950’s, Washington State University spearheaded planting of Vitis vinifers • 1962, WSU Professors founded Columbia Winery to produce first premium wines in WA • Grenache was one of the first grapes vinified • 1967, Chat. Ste. Michelle hires Andre Tchelistcheff • 1970’s expansion to Columbia Gorge, Walla Walla and Red Mountain areas • Now there are twelve AVA (American Viticultural Areas) Wine Production • Washington ranks 2nd to California in wine production • 43,000 acres of vineyards • 740+ wineries • 99.9% of wine grapes produced in eastern half of state • Grape harvest mainly mechanized (widely spaced vines) • Varietals – Early: Cinsault – 1970’s : Riesling and Chardonnay – 1980’s: Merlot – 1990’s: Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah 2 11/15/2013 Viticulture • Deeply influenced by use of irrigation – Sourced from major rivers (Columbia, Yakima and Snake) • Threat of severe winter frost – after harvest, soak vineyards to give few degrees of extra protection Grapes Varietals of Washington • Red Wines – Cabernet Sauvignon (5,929 acres) – Merlot (5,853 acres) – Syrah (2,831 acres) – Cabernet Franc (1,157 acres) • White Wines – Chardonnay (5,992 acres) – Riesling (4,402 acres) – Sauvignon Blanc (993 acres) – Gewurztraminer (632 acres • Over 80 varietals grown 3 11/15/2013 Wine Regions of Washington / Oregon Washington Wine Regions 4 11/15/2013 Columbia River Washington Wine Regions 5 11/15/2013 Washington State AVAs Washington AVAs • West of Cascades – Puget Sound AVA – Less than 1% of production – Many wineries have production and tasting rooms in Woodinville (outside Seattle) – Transport grapes from Eastern regions 6 11/15/2013 Rain Shadow of Cascade Mountains Creates dry, desert-like conditions of Eastern Washington Columbia Valley AVA • Covers one-third of state • Altitude of 1,000-2,000 feet • 17,000 acres planted • Climate: continental with variety of microclimates; 300 cloudless days/year • Several smaller AVA included Yakima Valley Walla Walla Red Mountain Snipes Mountain Wahluke Slope Horse Heaven Hills Rattlesnake Hills 7 11/15/2013 Columbia Valley AVA Horse Heaven AVA • Established 2005 • Oldest agricultural region in state • Third largest AVA: 11,000 acres • Produces 40% of state wine • Has some of the coolest regions • Three subdivisions – Red Mountain AVA, Snipes Mountain AVA and Rattlesnake Hills AVA 8 11/15/2013 Wahluke Slope AVA • Established 2006 • Produces 20% of state’s wine grapes • 5,190 acres of vineyards • Warmest and driest region, therefore produces the most consistent grapes • Primarily Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah Yakima Valley AVA • Established 1983 • Has state’s oldest and largest vineyards, highest concentration of vineyards • 11,120 acres of vineyards • Produces 40% of state’s wine grapes • Subdivided into Red Mountain, Snipes Mountain, Rattlesnake Hills AVAs 9 11/15/2013 Red Mountain AVA • Established 2001 • Has state’s second smallest AVA • 740 acres of vineyards • Produces Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Syrah and Sangiovese • Gentle slopes, full southern exposure – Grapes maintain increased acidity and attain optimal ripeness – Most prestigious and sought after AVA Rattlesnake Hills AVA • Established 2006 • Highest elevation vineyards in State (up to 3,000 ft) • 1,235 acres of vineyards • Temperatures more moderate and little danger of frost 10 11/15/2013 Snipes Mountain AVA • Established in 2009 • At 4,145 acres, it is one of the smallest AVAs • Characterized by rocky soil Walla Walla AVA • Established in 1984 (amended in 2001) • 1,110 acres planted • Wettest region of Columbia Valley • Four distinct soil profiles – Slackwater terrace, loess, river gravel and flood plain silt • Merlot 11 11/15/2013 Columbia Gorge AVA • Established in 2004 • 445 acres planted • Wind tunnel climate; fierce for viticulture • Pinot Noir and Pinot gris Puget Sound AVA • 200acres planted • Only region west of Cascades • Extends from foothills of the Cascades to the Olympic Peninsula and Puget Sound islands • Mild temperature, wet winters , dry summers • More sunshine than Bordeaux drier than Burgundy • Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir 12 11/15/2013 Characteristics of Washington Wines • Bright fruit flavors and crisp acidity • Recently, reds riper, fruit forward, light tannins, moderately high alcohol • Cabernet and Merlot show conc. Berry flavors like wild fruits found in Pacific Northwest (blackberry, boysenberry, cherry, raspberry) New World fruit with Old World style 13.