Washington AVA Guide
Updated: Oct 12, 2021
An American Viticultural Area (AVA) is a federally recognized region, that indicates the geographic, geological, and climatic features of an area. These features influence the grapes and the flavors/aromas of wines they produce - distinguishing them from surrounding grape growing regions. In Washington State, we currently have 19 AVAs.
Ancient Lakes Candy Mountain Columbia Gorge Columbia Valley Goose Gap Horse Heaven Hills Lake Chelan Lewis-Clark Valley Naches Heights Puget Sound | Rattlesnake Hills Red Mountain Royal Slope Snipes Mountain The Burn of Columbia Valley Yakima Valley Wahluke Slope Walla Walla Valley White Bluffs |
Knowing a little bit about each region will make you a more informed wine buyer. It will assist you in picking out wines that align more closely with your palate; providing you with a notion of how a wine is likely to taste from a given area. It will also help with narrowing down your choices of the ubiquitous wines of Washington.
Ancient Lakes (2012)
1,603 Acres
Primary White Grape Varieties: Riesling, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris/Grigio
Primary Red Grape Varieties: Syrah, Merlot
Climate: cool-moderate, arid, continental, heat accumulation begins, cooler/wider temperature diurnals, the Columbia River protects the area from early/late season frost
Annual Average Precipitation: Less than 8" – irrigation needed.
Elevation: 570 to 1,912 ft
Soil Types: 65 soil types including: basalt, caliche sand, silt, sandy loam, loess
Notable Aromas/Flavors of White Wine Varieties: citrus fruits, lime, lemon, green fruits, green apple, bright acidity and minerality.
Notable Aromas/Flavors of Red Wine Varieties: black fruits, balanced acidity, gentle tannin
Candy Mountain (2020)
815 Acres
Primary White Grape Varieties: Primarily Red Varieties
Primary Red Grape Varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache, Malbec, Merlot, Mourvèdre, Sangiovese
Climate: warm climate, dry, high winds, southwestern facing
Annual Average Precipitation: 6–8" - irrigation needed.
Elevation: 640 to 1,360 ft
Soil Types: loess, silt, basalt bedrock, minerals, ice age floor deposits, calcium caked gravel
Notable Aromas/Flavors of White Wine Varieties: Primarily Red Varieties
Notable Aromas/Flavors of Red Wine Varieties: big, structured, fruit-forward, balance and aging capacity, high quality, fruit forward, minerality and tannins
Oenophile Fact: Smallest AVA in WA
Columbia Gorge (2004)
186,610 Acres
Primary White Grape Varieties: Allbarino, Gewurztraminer, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc, Viognier
Primary Red Grape Varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Zinfandel, Barbera, Pinot Noir, Sangiovese, Tempranillo, Merlot, Lemberger
Climate: warm continental climate / cool maritime climate, south-facing slopes, multiple microclimates, hot / cool temperatures, sunshine / rain, Columbia River protects against early/late season frost, constant winds due to pressure differentials from cool Pacific ocean air and warm air from the desert
Annual Average Precipitation: 10 to 36" - dry farm and some irrigation needed.
Elevation: sea level to 2,000 ft
Soil Types: volcanic mudstone, basalt rock, loess, silt, sand, lahar
Notable Aromas/Flavors of White Wine Varieties: crisp, prominent acidity, fresh green apple, white flowers, spice, grapefruit
Notable Aromas/Flavors of Red Wine Varieties: red fruits, black fruits, rich complexity, tannic
Columbia Valley (1984)
8,748,949 Acres
Primary White Grape Varieties: Riesling, Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, Gewürztraminer, Marsanne, Pinot Gris, Morio Muskat, Muscadelle, Muscat Canelli, Orange Muscat
Primary Red Grape Varieties: Merlot, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Barbera, Black Muscat, Cabernet Franc, Carménère, Counoise, Gamay, Grenache, Lemberger, Malbec, Mouvedre Nebbiolo, Petit Verdot, Petit Sirah, Pinot Meunier, Pinot Noir
Climate: contains several meso- and micro-climates, dry, arid/semi-arid, continental climate, in the rain shadow of the Cascade Mountain Range south-facing slopes, early/late season frost and winter freezes are environmental threats
Annual Average Precipitation: 6–8" - irrigation needed.
Elevation: 1,200 to 2,100 ft
Soil Types: sandy, loess, silt, gravel, slackwater sediment, basalt bedrock
Notable Aromas/Flavors of White Wine Varieties: aromatic, green fruits, fresh green apple, stone fruit, peach tropical fruit, lime, lemon
Notable Aromas/Flavors of Red Wine Varieties: black fruits, red fruits, black cherry, cassis, sweet cherries, red currants, raspberries, blackberries, blueberries, cranberries, herbal notes chocolate, mint, less fruit forward, savory
Oenophile Fact: Red Mountain, Yakima, Walla Walla Valleys, Wahluke Slope, Rattlesnake Hills, Horse Heaven Hills, Snipes Mountain, Lake Chelan, Naches Heights and Ancient Lakes AVAs are all within the Columbia Valley AVA.
Goose Gap (2021)
1,800 Acres
Primary White Grape Varieties: Chardonnay
Primary Red Grape Varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah
Climate: south-southwest facing slopes delay fruit ripening, micro-climate protected from rain and fog,
Annual Average Precipitation: 6" - irrigation needed.
Elevation: 577-1,339 ft
Soil Types: windblown silt, light sand, Missoula Flood sediment
Notable Aromas/Flavors of White Wine Varieties: citrus, greet fruit
Notable Aromas/Flavors of Red Wine Varieties: red fruits, black fruits
Oenophile Fact: sub-appellation of Yakima Valley that gets its name from a path of migration for waterfoul.
Horse Heaven Hills (2005)
576,603 Acres
Primary White Grape Varieties: Chardonnay, Riesling, Chenin Blanc, Marsanne, Roussanne, Viognier
Primary Red Grape Varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, Barbera, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Mourvedre, Petit Verdot, Zinfandel
Climate: warm, steep south-facing slopes, pressure differentials causing significant winds - resulting in smaller canopy size and tougher grape skins, temperature diurnals caused by Columbia river reduces risk of early/late season frost
Annual Average Precipitation: 9" - irrigation needed.
Elevation: 200 to 1,800 ft
Soil Types: sandy, loam, loess, Missoula Flood sediment, basalt bedrock,
Notable Aromas/Flavors of White Wine Varieties: stone fruit, peach tropical fruit, aromatic
Notable Aromas/Flavors of Red Wine Varieties: black fruits, red fruits, black cherry, cassis, sweet cherries, red currants, raspberries, along with chocolate
Oenophile Fact: Champoux Vineyard, Cabernet Sauvignon are some of Washington’s most expensive wines.
Lake Chelan (2009)
24,114 Acre
Primary White Grape Varieties: Riesling, Pinot Gris, Gewurztraminer, Chardonnay, Semillon, Muscat Blanc, Orange Muscat, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris, Viognier
Primary Red Grape Varieties: Syrah, Merlot, Malbec, Pinot Noir, Grenache, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Petit Syrah, Carmenere, Zinfandel, Tempranillo, Petit Verdot, Tannat, Dolcetto, Pinot Meunier, Barbera
Climate: southern and eastern portions of the lake, the Lake Effect moderates temperatures (cool summer days/warm summer nights), protected against frost
Annual Average Precipitation: 11" - irrigation needed.
Elevation: 2,000 ft
Soil Types: sandy sediment, quartz, mica, minerals, glacial sediment, ash, pumice
Notable Aromas/Flavors of White Wine Varieties: stone fruit, citrus fruits, minerality, floral
Notable Aromas/Flavors of Red Wine Varieties: well balanced sugar and acid, complex, black fruits, red fruits
Lewis-Clark Valley (2016)
85,238 Acres
Primary White Grape Varieties: Chardonnay, Viogner
Primary Red Grape Varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache, Pinot Noir, Merlot, Petite Sirah, Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc
Climate: cold, temperate, good drainage, risk of winter frost, significant temperature diurnals
Annual Average Precipitation: 11 to 22" - minimal irrigation needed.
Elevation: 600 to 1,960 ft
Soil Types: decomposing perennial grasses, grass roots, loess, silt, stony, humus-rich mollisol
Notable Aromas/Flavors of White Wine Varieties: good acid, floral
Notable Aromas/Flavors of Red Wine Varieties: good acid, black fruits, red fruits, herb flavors, texture, low-med alcohol
Naches Heights (2011)
13,165 Acres
Primary White Grape Varieties: Pinot Gris/Grigio, Riesling, Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier, White Muscat,
Primary Red Grape Varieties: Syrah, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Saugignon, Malbec, Merlot, Petite Verdot, Mourvedre, Barbera, Nebbiolo, Sangiovese, Sagrantino, Souzau, Tinta Cao, Touriga Nacional, Tinta Roriz
Climate: cool, flat plateau, gently in elevation from southeast to northwest, good air drain to reduce frost damage risks
Annual Average Precipitation: 10 to 13" - irrigation needed.
Elevation: 1,200 to 2,100 ft
Soil Types: ancient volcanic bedrock, loess, clay, basalt
Notable Aromas/Flavors of White Wine Varieties: stone fruits, citrus fruits, good acidity, balanced ripeness
Notable Aromas/Flavors of Red Wine Varieties: red fruits, black fruits, blackberry, cherry, voilet, smooth tannins, leather, anise, minerals, aromatic
Oenophile Fact: First AVA in WA to be fully sustainable - all vineyards farmed are either organically, biodynamically, or salmon-safe.
Puget Sound (1995)
2,918,765 Acres
Primary White Grape Varieties: Riesling, Madeleine Angevine, Müller-Thurgau
Primary Red Grape Varieties: Pinot Noir, Regent, Siegerrebe, Vitis Labrusca "Island Belle."
Climate: cool, maritime climate, wet winters, warm dry summers rarely encounters prolonged freezes in winter, mild summers
Annual Average Precipitation: 15 to 60" - dry farmed.
Elevation: 3 to 108 ft
Soil Types: Semi-permeable cemented subsoil, glacial till
Notable Aromas/Flavors of White Wine Varieties: juicy, sweet, fruity, floral
Notable Aromas/Flavors of Red Wine Varieties: red fruits, juicy, sweet, fruity
Oenophile Fact: Spans from the Canadian border through to Olympia - includes numerous islands. Only region to the west of the Cascade Mountains.
Rattlesnake Hills (2006)
74,380 Acres
Primary White Grape Varieties: Chardonnay, Riesling, Chenin Blanc, Gewürztraminer, Muscat Canelli, Semillon, Viogner
Primary Red Grape Varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Merlot, Syrah, Grenache, Mourvedre, Petit Syrah
Climate: arid, continental climate, good air drainage, low risk of spring/fall frosts due to high elevation, limited risk of hard freezes due to warmer winter temps
Annual Average Precipitation: 6 to 12" - irrigation needed.
Elevation: 850 to 3,085 ft
Soil Types: silt, loam
Notable Aromas/Flavors of White Wine Varieties: lime, lemon, green apple, stone fruit, peach
Notable Aromas/Flavors of Red Wine Varieties: red fruits, black fruits, sweet cherries, red currants, and raspberries, black cherry, cassis, herbal, chocolate, mint
Red Mountain (2001)
4,538 Acres
Primary White Grape Varieties: Chardonnay, Gewürztraminer, Pinot Gris, Riesling, Roussanne, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon
Primary Red Grape Varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon, Counoise, Lemberger, Malbec, Merlot, Mourvedre, Nebbiolo, Petit Verdot, Syrah,
Climate: warm, dry, continental climate, ample sunlight, Yakima river moderates temperature, adequate air movement, gentle south-facing slope
Annual Average Precipitation: 6 to 8" - irrigation needed.
Elevation: 500 to 1500 ft
Soil Types: wind-blown loess, sandy loam, gravel, silt
Notable Aromas/Flavors of White Wine Varieties: mineral notes, stone fruits, citrus fruits
Notable Aromas/Flavors of Red Wine Varieties: well balance, intense berry flavors, structured, red fruits, black fruits, full-bodied, dark, dense, tannic, mineral notes
Oenophile Fact: Highest priced grapes per ton - 3x the Washington average.
Royal Slope (2020)
156,389 Acres
Primary White Grape Varieties: Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, Gewürztraminer, Pinot Gris, Riesling, Roussanne, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, Viogner
Primary Red Grape Varieties: Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cinsault, Grenache, Malbec, Merlot, Mourvèdre, Petit Verdot, Pinot Noir, Sangiovese, Tempranillo, Syrah,
Climate: warm, south-facing slope, high elevation, extended growing season, delayed ripening
Annual Average Precipitation: 6 to 8" - irrigation needed.
Elevation: 610 to 1,756 ft
Soil Types: windblown silt, loess
Notable Aromas/Flavors of White Wine Varieties: natural acidity, bright, fresh, floral, citrus fruits, stone fruits
Notable Aromas/Flavors of Red Wine Varieties: natural acidity, intense color, black fruis, red fruits, high quality grapes
Snipes Mountain (2009)
4,005 Acres
Primary White Grape Varieties: Chardonnay, Semillon, Gewürztraminer, Viogner, Muscat
Primary Red Grape Varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Sangiovese, Syrah, Grenache, Mourvedre, and more
Climate: arid, continental climate, south-facing slopes, cold air to flow downhill, preventing frost damage that occasionally affects nearby regions.
Annual Average Precipitation: 7" - irrigation needed.
Elevation: 1,290 ft
Soil Types: rocky, loess, wind blown deposits of sand, clay, silt, large gravel deposits, arid soils,
Notable Aromas/Flavors of White Wine Varieties: concentrated fruit, stone fruits, floral, acidic
Notable Aromas/Flavors of Red Wine Varieties: concentrated fruit, red fruits, black fruits intense, structured fruit, rich, textured, acidic
Oenophile Fact: Home to some of Washington's oldest Cabernet Sauvignon vines.
The Burn of Columbia Valley (2021)
1,500 Acres
Primary White Grape Varieties: Chardonnay
Primary Red Grape Varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon
Climate: warm, wetter than other areas of the Columbia Valley, moderated by substantial winds, warm climate that behaves like a cool climate
Annual Average Precipitation: 8-9" - irrigation needed.
Elevation: 270 to 1,780 ft
Soil Types: Walla Walla silt loam, heavy soils
Notable Aromas/Flavors of White Wine Varieties: citrus fruit, green fruit, pear, herbaceous, tarragon
Notable Aromas/Flavors of Red Wine Varieties: red fruits, black fruits intense, cherry, spice, currant, herbaceous
Oenophile Fact: the name comes from old farming practices of burning the hillside to propagate well-nourished grasses for animals to graze in the spring.
Yakima Valley (1983)
708,710 Acres
Primary White Grape Varieties: Aligote, Chardonnay, Riesling, Pinot Gris, Sauvignon Blanc, Gewürztraminer, Chenin Blanc, Marsanne, Orange Muscat, Muscat Canelli, Rousanne, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, Viogner
Primary Red Grape Varieties: Syrah, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Barbera, Black Muscat, Gamay, Grenahce, Lemberger, Malbec, Mourvedre, Petit Verdot, Petite Sirah, Pinot Noir, Sangiovese, Zinfandel
Climate: warm, dry, continental climate, shadow from Cascade Mountains
Annual Average Precipitation: 8" - irrigation needed
Elevation: 300 to 1,800 ft
Soil Types: silt, loam, gravel, basalt bedrock
Notable Aromas/Flavors of White Wine Varieties: fresh green apple aromas, stone fruit and tropical fruit characters
Notable Aromas/Flavors of Red Wine Varieties: red fruit, black fruit, sweet cherries, red currants, raspberries, chocolate, mint, blackberries, blueberries and cranberries, savory, mineral
Oenophile Fact: : Yakima Valley AVA encompasses three distinctive sub-appellations: Red Mountain, Snipes Mountain, and Rattlesnake Hills.
Wahluke Slope (2006)
80,490 Acre
Primary White Grape Varieties: Riesling, Chardonnay, Gewürztraminer, Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, Viogner
Primary Red Grape Varieties: Merlot, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Grenache, Mourvedre, Petit Verdot, Sangiovese, Zinfandel
Climate: warm, dry, south-facing slopes, proximity to Columbia river minimizes risk of frost, south-facing slope, significant wind (smaller leaf size / smaller grape clusters) compared to other regions
Annual Average Precipitation: 6" - irrigation needed
Elevation: 425 to 1,480 ft
Soil Types: deep topsoil, wind-blown sand
Notable Aromas/Flavors of White Wine Varieties: concentrated flavors, floral, citrus fruits, stone fruits
Notable Aromas/Flavors of Red Wine Varieties: red fruits, black fruits, black cherry, cassis, blackberries, blueberries, sweet cherries, red currant, raspberries, chocolate, full-bodied, concentrated flavors
Walla Walla Valley (1984)
220,799 Acres
Primary White Grape Varieties: Chardonnay, Viogner, Semillon, Roussanne, Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, Marsanne, Grenache Blanc, Alvarinho, Gewürztraminer, Pinot Gris, Picpoul Blanc, Aligoté
Primary Red Grape Varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Petit Verdot, Sangiovese, Grenache, Tempranillo, Pinot Noir, Carmenere, Mourvèdre, Barbera, Zinfandel, Petite Sirah, Nebbiolo, Dolcetto, Aglianico, Primitivo, Counoise, Cinsaut, Charbono Ruby Cabernet, Carignan, Counoise
Climate: warm, sudden temperature changes, susceptible to early and late season frosts and deep winter freezes - cold air does not dissipate due to appellation landscape
Annual Average Precipitation: 12.5" - irrigation needed.
Elevation: 400 to 2,000 ft
Soil Types: loess, silt, Missoula flood slackwater deposits, fractured basalt, cobblestone riverbed
Notable Aromas/Flavors of White Wine Varieties: stone fruits, citrus fruits, floral
Notable Aromas/Flavors of Red Wine Varieties: red fruits, black fruits, savory profiles, earth, black olives, iodine, smoked meat, tannic, pepper, wet stone, river rock
White Bluffs (2021)
1,127 Acres
Primary White Grape Varieties: Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc
Primary Red Grape Varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah
Climate: moderate, the elevation/separation from the valley floor protects the grapes from cold air and freezing, slightly warmer and longer growing season
Annual Average Precipitation: 6" - irrigation needed.
Elevation: 800-1,000 ft
Soil Types: ancient lakebed sediment, windblown silt, Missoula Flood deposits, clay, iron rich, volcanic ash, caliche deposits
Notable Aromas/Flavors of White Wine Varieties: aromatic, citrus fruit, green fruit
Notable Aromas/Flavors of Red Wine Varieties: red fruits, black fruit, powerful tannin
Oenophile Fact: some of the oldest vineyards in the state are from this region.
For a fun date night-in or for bestie bonding, do an at home wine tasting experiment, with the same varietal from several different Washington AVAs. See if you can taste or smell the differences between the wines. It is important to get wines all within the same price point, this way you can assume they have similar production practices.
As always, if you have questions, comments or feedback - please post a note below, on The Wine Tails Facebook page, or message me on Instagram.
Cheers and happy sipping!