Washington State Wines

Most of the world’s classic wine grapes can thrive in many places. Yet each variety seems to have a “spiritual home” a region where the grape transcends what is merely good to become truly great.

In the 1990s, Washington State emerged much to the surprise of many wine drinkers as one of those rare spiritual homes, particularly for Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. This was remarkable considering that, just a decade earlier, most of the state’s winemaking hopes were centered on Riesling, Gewürztraminer, Chardonnay, and other cool-climate white grapes. As it turns out, Washington’s warm, dry eastern valleys proved ideal for red Bordeaux varieties, producing wines of depth, elegance, and power.

The Quick Sip on Washington State

Washington is now recognized as one of the top U.S. producers of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon.

These wines are noted for their powerful structure, deep berry flavors, and balanced acidity.

Virtually all of Washington’s vineyards lie in the dry, sunny eastern part of the state, separated from the rainy coastal zone by the Cascade Range.

The Land, the Grapes, and the Vineyards

If not for its rivers the Columbia, Yakima, Snake, and Walla Walla eastern Washington would be a desert. Annual rainfall averages as little as six inches, but extensive irrigation has transformed this arid land into a mosaic of wheat fields, orchards, and, increasingly, world-class vineyards.

Washington’s unique climate gives its wines their distinctive personality. Its northern latitude provides about two more hours of sunlight per day than California’s Napa Valley during the growing season. The warm days and cool nights promote a long, slow ripening period, allowing grapes to develop complex flavors while retaining freshness and balance.

The heart of Washington viticulture is the Columbia Valley, a vast 10.7-million-acre area shaped by massive ice-age floods 12,000 to 15,000 years ago. These ancient cataclysms carved deep valleys and left behind the mineral-rich soils that define the region today.

Washington State’s Wine Regions

Columbia Valley

Yakima Valley

Walla Walla Valley

Red Mountain

Puget Sound

Each region has its own microclimate and character. The Columbia Valley remains the dominant growing area, but smaller appellations like Red Mountain and Walla Walla have gained international acclaim for their concentrated, age-worthy reds.

Top Producers of Washington State Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon

Andrew Will Winery

Canoe Ridge Vineyard

Chateau Ste. Michelle

Chinook

Columbia Winery

DeLille Cellars

Hedges Cellars

The Hogue Cellars

Kiona Vineyards

Leonetti Cellar

Matthews Cellars

Pepper Bridge Winery

Quilceda Creek Vintners

Snoqualmie Winery

Waterbrook Winery

Wilridge Winery

Woodward Canyon

Visiting Washington’s Wineries

Exploring Washington’s wine country is both a scenic and rewarding adventure. While Chateau Ste. Michelle and Columbia Winery both in Woodinville, about 20 miles northeast of Seattle are easy to visit and offer bustling tasting rooms, most other wineries lie east of the Cascade Mountains.

The Yakima Valley is about a two-and-a-half-hour drive from Seattle; Walla Walla takes about five hours. The drive, winding through mountain passes and open plains, is part of the experience. Once there, visitors find that many wineries are small and rural, often requiring appointments.

Each year, the Washington Wine Commission publishes a guide titled “Touring the Washington Wine Country,” a valuable resource for visitors.

Sample Wineries by Region

Seattle Area (Woodinville):

Chateau Ste. Michelle — 14111 NE 145th St., Woodinville, WA | (425) 488-1133

Columbia Winery — 14030 NE 145th St., Woodinville, WA | (425) 488-2776

Puget Sound & Islands:

Greenbank Farm — 765 E. Wonn Rd., Greenbank, WA | (360) 678-7700 (fruit wines)

Quilceda Creek Vintners — 11306 52nd St. SE, Snohomish, WA | (360) 568-2389

Yakima Valley:

Covey Run Vintners — 1500 Vintage Rd., Zillah, WA | (509) 829-6235

Hedges Cellars — 53511 N. Sunset Rd., Benton City, WA | (509) 588-3155

The Hogue Cellars — 2800 Lee Rd., Prosser, WA | (509) 786-4557

Walla Walla:

Canoe Ridge Vineyard — 1102 W. Cherry St., Walla Walla, WA | (509) 527-0885

Waterbrook Winery — 31 E. Main St., Walla Walla, WA | (509) 522-1262

Conclusion

Washington State stands today as one of America’s premier wine regions a land of bright skies, volcanic soils, and visionary winemakers. Its Merlots and Cabernets, with their vivid fruit, structure, and sense of place, have earned a place among the world’s finest expressions of these noble grapes.