Ep 528: Yakima Valley AVA, Washington

Washington State is the second-largest wine producing state in the US with about 1,050 wineries making over 17 million cases of wine. In this show I cover the largest sub region of the Columbia Valley AVA, Yakima Valley AVA (and its sub-AVAs).

Map: Yakima Valley Tourism

Yakima is in south-central Washington, at 46˚  N latitude. In 1983 it became Washington State’s first federally-recognized AVA. Responsible for nearly 1/3 of Washington’s total planted land,  the major grapes in Yakima Valley are the American standards: Chardonnay, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, plus Riesling and Syrah.

Photo: Vineyard in Rattlesnake Hills AVA Source: Washington Wine Commission

Yakima is on what locals call the ‘dry side’ of Washington state, the high desert east of the Cascade Mountains, which consists of irrigated farmland and sagebrush-covered wild land. The area is known for a handful of very large wineries but is dominated by small family run operations.

Photo: Snipes Mountain AVA Source: Washington Wine Commission

The podcast includes a review of the region's history, the fascinating geology and climate of this area and then the sub-appellations of this relatively new and somewhat underrated Washington powerhouse region.

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