Columbia Valley AVA
A very large AVA in south-central Washington and northern Oregon. The Columbia Valley AVA encompasses 1,152,000 acres, taking up almost a third of Washington State plus a small part of Oregon. Of this, approximately 29,000 acres are planted, including the smaller viticultural areas of Yakima Valley, Red Mountain, and walla walla. Columbia Valley AVA represents 99 percent of Washington’s vineyards. Because it’s protected by the Cascade Mountains from the cool weather coming in from the Pacific Ocean, the Columbia Valley is the warmest growing area in the Pacific Northwest. Its growing areas range from region I to region III (see Climate Regions of California). Because of the contrasting temperatures throughout the region, different grape varieties DO well in various locations. This means that Merlot, a warm-weather grape, and Riesling, a cool-weather grape, both can ripen properly here. Cabernet Sauvignon, Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, and Sémillon are also grown, as are Concord and other Vitis labrusca varieties. While there are a few wineries in the northern part of the Columbia Valley, almost all of them are in southern Washington nearer the Oregon border in the Yakima Valley and the Red Mountain and Walla Walla areas.
The New Wine Lovers Companion, 2nd Edition, by Ron Herbst and Sharon Tyler Herbst. Copyright © (1) 2003, 1995 by Ron Herbst and Sharon Tyler Herbst. Reprinted by arrangement with Barron's Educational Series, Inc.