As much as any region in Washington, perhaps none is as famous as the Walla Walla Valley. This because of a number of factors, including history, reputation, quality, density of tasting rooms as well as other factors, including natural beauty, culinary scene and overall vibe. With more than 130 wineries calling the valley home, Walla Walla is only rivaled by Woodinville for … [Read more...] about Walla Walla rising with reds
Washington wine grape 2017 harvest down by 16 percent
SEATTLE - As predicted last fall, Washington's wine grape crop fell short of record numbers, according to the annual harvest report released this week by the Washington State Wine Commission. The total crushed last fall added up to 227,000 tons, down 16 percent from the 2016 vintage, when winemakers crushed a record 270,000 tons. Even so, the 2017 harvest equaled 2014 as the … [Read more...] about Washington wine grape 2017 harvest down by 16 percent
America’s favorite wine well-represented in Northwest
Chardonnay is, and continues to be America's favorite wine. Of course, California leads the way, with 675,000 tons crushed in last fall's harvest, Chardonnay made up a full 16 percent of the state's total. In Washington, while Chardonnay is the No. 1 white grape and No. 2 overall, winemakers crushed about 45,000 tons in fall 2016. This is a number that has steadily risen in … [Read more...] about America’s favorite wine well-represented in Northwest
Oregon retains focus on Pinot Noir
A singular varietal focus gives Oregon a tremendous advantage in an ever-more crowded wine market. When any wine lover around the globe says "Oregon wine," "Pinot Noir" almost always comes to mind immediately. This is thanks to a singular focus dating back to the 1960s, when folks such as David Lett, Dick Ponzi and Dick Erath arrived and helped found the Oregon wine … [Read more...] about Oregon retains focus on Pinot Noir
Wahluke Slope plays key role for Washington wineries
The Wahluke Slope is in a remote and arid section of Washington wine country, an 80,000-acre region that was federally designated as an American Viticultural Area in 2006. It's essentially a 13-mile wide gravel bar formed 15,000 years ago at the end of the last ice age when a series of outburst floods swept across what is now the Columbia Valley and reshaped what is now … [Read more...] about Wahluke Slope plays key role for Washington wineries