Washington wine; location, climate, and terroir
There are many reasons why Washington State is home to some of the best wine regions and winemakers in the world. We have narrowed it down to our favorite top 10 things about Washington wine country.
1. Great road trip to try Walla Walla wines
Washington State has majestic, awe-inspiring landscapes, diverse urban areas, and some of the world’s most robust reds and silky-smooth white wines. As you head east from Seattle over the Cascade Mountains, which hang dauntingly over the mighty Columbia River, you will encounter picturesque ridges with a hint of vines. As you explore further east, you will immerse yourself in miles of vineyards and wineries covering the surrounding hills as they soak up the summer sun.
Located in the far southeastern part of the state, this is home to gorgeous panoramic views and an abundance of quality agricultural delights. Walla Walla means “many waters” and was voted ‘Best Wine Region’ in 2021-2022 by USA TODAY. The Walla Walla AVA is unique because it stretches into Oregon and is a shared viticulture area. In addition to wine, the Walla Walla Valley is a farm-to-table food paradise. The valley produces crisp apples, succulent strawberries, sweet onions, delicious asparagus, and other fresh regional produce. To heighten your experience, dine at a local restaurant and stop at a roadside fruit stand.
2. New westside growth in Woodinville wine
Approximately 30 minutes outside Seattle, it is home to a revolution of wine, art, and beauty. The Vault at Maltby is found just a few miles outside the picturesque town of Woodinville. These customized warehouses are home to some of the best wine producers in the state, including Laterus Cellars and Two Vintners, who call the Vault home for wine production and tasting rooms. Within Woodinville, you will find a large concentration of wineries that could lead to a multi-day wine extravaganza, with over 100 wineries, including Warr-King and JM Cellars. While in Woodinville, spend some time at Wine Alley in Woodin Creek Village, a new destination for tasting rooms and restaurants.
3. Life on the 46th parallel
Washington sits on the 46th parallel, just north of the Rhône Valley, Bordeaux, and Italy’s Piedmont, which all lie on the 45th parallel. Washington’s location, climate, and terroir are perfect for growing grape varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, and Chardonnay. Because of this, Washington produces wines of a similar, classic structure but with riper, bolder fruit expression. Taste a Bordeaux Cabernet Sauvignon next to a Washington Cabernet Sauvignon, and you should easily be able to identify them.
4. Food-friendly wines
Many chefs and gourmands share a common phrase: things that “grow together, go together.” They mean that plants and animals living in a specific area have a natural affinity for one another. A delicious pairing of sweet French onion soup with a fruity Pinot Noir or a Bourbon glazed tri-tip steak, accompanied by a full-bodied red wine from Washington, such as a Syrah or Cabernet Franc. Try a Braai-style barbecue chicken with a charred smokiness from the open flame, sweet and spicy sauce with citrus, brown sugar, and chili powder that pairs perfectly with a crisp Grenache Blanc. Its medium acidity handles the spiciness and accentuates the sweetness of the dish.
5. Diversity in wines & winemakers
While the quality of wine in Washington State is incredible, the astonishing diversity of grapes grown around the state makes Washington unique from other AVAs worldwide. The diverse topography of the landscape varies from hot, dry, high desert conditions to a cool, mountainous climate, making it a prime wine-growing region. Washington’s oldest AVA, the Yakima Valley, and its sub-AVAs (Candy Mountain, Rattlesnake Hills, Snipes Mountain, Red Mountain) have astonishing diversity in growing world-class white and red grapes.
Surprisingly, in the middle of all this heat, Chardonnay, Riesling, and Sauvignon Blanc are the most prominent white grapes in the Yakima Valley.
Fortunately for the Washington wine industry, there is no shortage of diversity regarding viticulturists, winemakers, and the wines themselves. Côte Bonneville, Warr-King, Wautoma Springs, Frichette, and Falling Rain Cellars are a few of the crowning jewel women winemakers and owners found around the state. And if you feel the call to be more involved, check out the Alliance of Women in Washington Wine, whose mission is to make the Washington wine industry a leader in equity and diversity.
6. Sunny days
Most people think of overcast skies and rain throughout the Pacific Northwest. Still, Eastern Washington receives nearly two more hours of sunlight during the growing season than the Sunshine State of California. During photosynthesis, plants use sunlight to produce glucose, which they use as energy to grow and make that sweet, delicious fruit that we all love. Grapes are no exception; the more sunlight grapes receive during the growing season, the riper they become, allowing them to reach their full flavor potential. As a result, the additional sunlight and cool nights in Washington result in well-structured and balanced wines.
7. Bold reds, bold value
When most people think of robust, bold, full-bodied red wines, they think of the high price tag. Often, they are correct, but that’s not always the case with many red wines from Washington. They have an incredibly high value for your drinking quality — but they are simply more difficult to find outside of the Pacific Northwest. (Um, that’s why Rising Wines Collective’s got you covered!) So, next time you want to impress your dinner guests, buy a few reds from Washington and keep the dinner party going all night!
8. Land of Fire & Ice
Washington has the perfect climate and terroir for growing grapes to produce wine, but that didn’t happen by accident. Or did it? The history of the Missoula Floods is commonly known throughout the Pacific Northwest for providing the area with its incredibly diverse natural landscape. During the last period of continental glaciation, ice blocked and dammed the Clarks Fork River in western Montana, forming the enormous glacial Lake Missoula. That dam broke repeatedly, causing catastrophic floods that followed the ancestral Columbia River, depositing sediments from the river bed onto the high-reaching hills surrounding the river and the valley. Those sediments and the region’s climate make Washington an ideal place for wine-growing.
9. Eat & drink local
Much of the state of Washington takes, at least in part, its urban identity, influence, and culture from its most populated city, Seattle. Situated on Puget Sound, Seattle has a bustling nightlife and an artisan food scene. The best thing about Seattle’s food and drink options is that you can eat farm-to-table and local without trying.
With 90% of Washington’s 1,000+ wineries being small-production and family-owned, producing fewer than 5,000 cases yearly, you won’t often find these wines on retail shelves. Wine lovers know to head to winery tasting rooms, local restaurants, and our website to explore these great wines.
10. Sustainable Washington
Respect for the land and all it provides us is at the heart of the Washington wine industry. Sustainable Washington is a new sustainability program that promotes a commitment to quality fruit, environmental stewardship, and building and supporting healthy communities. The science-based program and its participating vineyards are committed to sustainable viticultural practices and are subject to third-party audits to meet and maintain standards.
LIVE Certified Sustainable is a vital accreditation throughout the Pacific Northwest focused on providing high-quality fruits while promoting responsible and sustainable farming, biodiversity on the farm, minimizing or eliminating synthetic chemicals and fertilizer, and worker protection with benefits and health and safety. These certifications and others like them ensure that the wine or produce you consume is of the highest quality, meets standards, and helps provide a sustainable future.
The awesome thing about online wine shopping is you can travel around Washington state through each bottle. Happy exploring!
Discover more about Washington state wines
Five cool facts about Washington wine
A brief history of Washington wine
Perspectives on Washington and Bordeaux
I’ll have a Washington white wine, thank you!
Washington is America’s awakening red wine giant
