Washington Wineries, Wines and Wine Regions

This section has information on Washington Wineries, Wines and Wine Regions. It includes the history of Washington States wines, the Columbia Valley wineries and more. You will also find information on the Puget Sound and Columbia Gorge wineries and wine regions.

History and Overview of Wine in Washington State

Wine lovers have grown and produced small quantities of wine in Washington State for over a hundred years. However, it wasn't until the late 1960s and early 1970s when the current wine industry started.

It's documented that the first Washington wines appeared in the mid-1800s. At that time, both Italian and German immigrants planned and harvested small plots of vines to make their own wines.

The change that occurred in the late 1960s and early 1970s was that a few wine makers noticed the potential for this area to make commercial wine. So, they started planting. The first official winery was built around this same time and the first commercial wines from this area were produced in 1967.

Today, you will find more than 500 Washington wineries. There are also eleven official wine regions designated throughout the state.

Washington is now one of the most important wine states in the US. It currently produces the second most amount of wine per year, only behind California.

Washington wineries grow a number of different types of red wine. The most popular reds are Cabernet Sauvignon wine, followed by Merlot wine, Syrah wine, Cabernet Franc wine and Pinot Noir wine. Forty eight percent of the wine grown at Washington State wineries is red wine.

Washington State wines are also making a name for themselves. There are now a number of wineries producing top tier Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon wine. In fact, the 2005 Quilceda Creek Cabernet Sauvignon was served as part of an official White House dinner in January 2011.

Columbia Valley Wineries and Wine Region Overview

Columbia Valley is the largest wine region in the state of Washington. Based on the last vineyard survey, about 99% of the wine grapes in Washington State are grown by Columbia Valley wineries and vineyards.

This wine region has almost the perfect weather condition to grown amazing wines. It is at a similar latitude with both the Burgundy and Bordeaux wine regions in France. It has long days in the summer, which can have up to 17 hours of sun. However, it doesn't get too hot during the day in the summer.

The Washington State wineries in this region get very little rain. This was initially a concern for wine growers. However, there is a large supply from water from the Columbia river which runs right through this region. They use the water from that river to irrigate their vines.

One risk for wine growers in this region is the cold winter weather. It can get below zero and possibly ruin the vines. Wine makers are willing to take this chance due to this wine region's potential to grow world class wines. So far, they have only lost their vines to the cold weather a couple of times.

Of the eleven wine regions in Washington, eight of them are inside the boundaries of the Columbia Valley wine region. The following wine regions are all located within the Columbia Valley area: Red Mountain, Yakima Valley, Walla Walla Valley, Wahluke Slope, Rattlesnake Hills, Horse Heaven Hills, Snipes Mountain, and Lake Chelan. Learn more about the Columbia Valley wineries and wine region and these 8 sub-regions.

Learn more about the Yakima Valley wineries and wine region and get some great recommendations for your visit. The small city of Yakima is also a great place to stay when visiting the eastern Columbia Valley or Yakima Valley wineries. Check out these recommendations for Yakima hotels for your visit to Washington wineries in this area.

There are also a number of noteworthy wines in both the Red Mountain and Walla Walla Valley wine regions. Learn more about the Red Mountain wineries and the Walla Walla wineries and wine region including recommendations for some of their highly regarded red wines.

Columbia Gorge Wineries and Wine Region

The Columbia Gorge wine region is located in both Oregon and Washington State. About half of the wineries are located in Oregon and the other half are in Washington State. The Columbia River also runs through this wine region and the Columbia Gorge wineries are located on both sides.

This wine region has some unique characteristics and an interesting history. Learn more about the Columbia Gorge Wineries and Wine Region.

Puget Sound Wineries and Wine Region

The final wine region with Washington wineries is the Puget Sound wine region. This region is located in the Puget Sound area near Seattle. You'll find around 45 wineries in this region.

The temperatures in this region are a lot milder than the other wine regions in Washington. Because of this weather, the wine region focuses mainly on different types of white wine. However, they do grow some red wine including Pinot Noir.

Find recommendations for some of the best Washington State wineries from each wine region.

Washington State Wineries Map Resource

There are a number of great maps to help you plan your trip to visit the Washington wineries and wine regions. This resource guide has the map of Washington State wineries you will need for your trip. It includes a list of winery maps for Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley, Red Mountain wineries and more.

Washington Wine Clubs Recommendations

If you really enjoy Washington wines, then you should investigate the option of joining a wine club. There are a number of great wine clubs that features a variety of Washington State wines. Find recommendations for some of the best Washington Wine Clubs including those that features multiple wineries and those that are managed just by one winery.