Like California, the then Oregon Territory was a site of experimentation with the noble vinifera grapes of France like Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and others. Unlike California, the Mission grape did not survive well at all in these more northerly climes.
But, then again, the early vintages of viticulture in the NW U.S. were marked by fits and starts of success: if the grapes were right the site was wrong. If the grape and site were well-suited, Mother Nature could come through and demonstrate how inhospitable the climate can be. The first few decades were discouraging to the newcomers who wanted the fruits of the vine gracing their dinner table. Water and heat were the two uncontrollable factors that swung like pendulums from extreme to extreme, destroying the crops by heat, cold, flood or drought. Many vineyardists took to the German example and became orchardists instead; the bigger fruits of trees are less vulnerable than the fruit of vines. It is a good thing they did, or we would not have the famous Northwest apple industry! The grape growers who could stick with it were enjoying grape success right before the next wine pest set in - Prohibition.
Prohibition is an anomaly in the history of the world, which I hope we have learned from. That interregnum, which the State of Washington helped to pioneer, mind you, cost the state its reputation for producing any grapes aside from those destined to become juice, raisins or table grapes. When Repeal came through, the Northwest was not positioned to be a player in the table wine industry. In fact, the bulk of the grapes were then shipped of to become some of the most execrable wines ever to be consumed while the bottle was still in the brown bag! Plonk was the word of the day to farmers who had no interest in where their grapes ended up as long as the checks were good. And they were.
Soldiers returning from WWII had grown accustomed to the tastes of dry table wines while they had been stationed in Europe. Demand for these styles grew and grew, while producers were beginning to take note of quality that arose from quantity. There were several key people heading up the betterment of the PacNW wines all along, university professors mostly, whether or not agriculture was their subject. It is due to these men's vision and perserverance that Associated Vintners was formed in the 60's. Today, that moniker has been changed to Columbia Winery and their wines are widely available throughout the US.
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