Washington is the second largest wine producing state in the United States. The earliest grapes were planted in 1825 while the commercial industry began in the 1960's. There are over 500 wineries throughout the state's nine AVA's. Our travels took us to two appellations: the Columbia Valley and the Columbia Gorge. The Columbia Valley AVA covers 18,000 square miles with over 34 thousand acres of grapes. The wineries we visited had little rainfall; one receives about eight inches a year. The area was considered desert and the wineries used drip irrigation in their vineyards. In stark contrast, the winery we visited in the Columbia Gorge area had much more rainfall with forests covering the surrounding mountains.
Washington State offers wineries with diverse terroirs surrounded by natural beauty. The dramatic river canyon provides views of the swiftly flowing Columbia River and high cliffs against a deep blue sky.
Visit this Oregon wine tour that partners with Wine Trail Traveler.
