Yakima Valley

| Yakima Valley | Columbia Valley | Walla Walla Valley | Puget Sound | Red Mountain | Columbia Gorge | Horse Heaven Hills | Wahluke Slope | Rattlesnake Hills | Snipes Mountain | Lake Chelan |

  • Part of the larger Columbia Valley AVA
  • Oldest, largest and most diverse wine growing region in Washington state
  • Situated in the central region of Washington State just across the spectacular Cascade Mountains from the metropolitan areas of Seattle and Portland
  • The foothills of the Cascade Mountains form the western boundary of the appellation with the area extending east to the Kiona Hills near Richland
  • Its northern border follows the crest of the Rattlesnake Hills and the southern edge moves the Horse Heaven Hills to the Toppenish Ridge
  • Yakima Valley vineyards produce more than one‐third of Washington State’s grapes, and its fruit is a key ingredient in more than half of all Washington wines
  • One‐third of the vineyards in Washington are located in the Yakima Valley AVA
  • Most wineries here are small family operations but range in size from a few acres to a few hundred
  • Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz are the 2 most planted reds (also see Cabernet franc, Sangiovese, and  Malbec)
  • Chardonnay and Riesling and the most planted whites (also see Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc, Gewürztraminer, Pinot Gris, Viognier and Chenin Blanc)
  • Long sun-drenched days and cool evenings in this desert climate yield bold, hearty, and luscious wines
  • The temperature of the Yakima Valley is more temperate then the rest of the greater Columbia Valley AVA, with average temperatures being 5°F (3°C) to 10°F (6°C) cooler
  • Located on the same parallel as the famous Bordeaux region of France
  • Yakima Valley is a high desert region receiving less than six inches of rainfall per year
  • Irrigation water from the Cascade Mountain snow melt allows Yakima Valley growers to control the amount of water each plant receives throughout the growing period
  • Vineyard elevations can be found from 1,000 feet to 3,000 feet above sea level
  • Due to cool nights, warm days, and controlled water, Yakima Valley vines tend to have a longer growing season (190 day average) giving the grapes more hang time resulting in fully mature fruit