Viticulture and Enology in Washington State are alive and well as our state becomes a winner in the wine grape and wine industry. Some of the best wine-producing grape varieties, knowledgeable growers and skilled winemakers in the world coupled with the fruit of ongoing scientific studies enable Washington State's 145 wineries to magically handcraft award-winning wines for the connoisseur.
Growers of flourishing vineyards laden with trellised-varietal grapes, winemakers and successful vintners around the state are garnering international awards for their efforts, more than ever. No wonder.
A current USDA report shows that vineyard acreage in Washington State has grown from 11,100 acres in 1993 to 24,806 acres in 1999. Acres of great grape varities plus winegrowing and winemaking knowledge are a winning combination. The industry must be doing something right.
TheWashington Wine Commission is the site to learn more about the industry. They'll send you a brochure of all the wine events in the state if you ask. Be sure to come back to read the rest of this article, though!
What makes Washington State such a great wine producer?
We have the climate and the know-how to make the spectacular wine folks expect of this region. Sun-drenched Yakima Valley sits at the same latitude as wine-producing regions of France and is at the heart of the fruitful Washington State winemaking industry. That helps.
Also, Washington’s wineries throughout the state are making a name for themselves for various other reasons. As a matter of fact, Washington wineries are moving up in the international marketplace with their own secret winemaking strategies. We have many wineries in our state sharing the limelight.
Columbia Valley Wineries, for instance, near the Tri-Cities (Kennewick, Pasco and Richland) bills themselves as "The Heartland of Washington State Wines." Our first state winery, Chateau Ste. Michelle in Grandview, is a roaring success since its birth in 1930. Walla Walla Valley is beginning to also make a name for themselves - The Patrick M. Paul Vineyards won the Beverage Tasting Institute Award, a Gold Medal-Best buy, for their 1993 Merlot. Valley Leonetti Cellars wines have been rated as the Top 100 of the World for several years now.
What about other state wineries? How do they succeed?
Talk to Walla Walla vintners. They’ll tell you it’s the soil, sunshine and cool evenings that make their crops. Local Waterbrook Winery’s Chardonnay is classed by Wine Spectator magazine as one of the world’s top 50 wines. It’s my guess these folks really know what they are doing, and the marketplace is responding.
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