Washington wine
Viticulture in Washington called viticulture in the American state of Washington. According to U.S. law, each state and each county is a protected designation of origin by definition and does not need to be recognized by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives as such.
While some vineyards surrounding the Puget Sound in western Washington, but here is not much space for vineyards, also prevail cool and rainy conditions.
Washington State → approximately 11,800 acres of vines including hybrids and Labrusca
Climate
Western Washington (only 1 % of the total vineyard area )
- Mild and humid by proximity of the Pacific and effect of the Puget Sound
Eastern Washington ( extensive, agriculturally used hills, most of the vineyards )
- Shielded by the Cascade Mountains to sea air
- Hot with steppe stick, dry summers and cold to arctic cold winters
- Irrigation necessary
- Vineyards on south and southwest slopes for winter warmth
- Problem: Frost
- High temperature differences between day / night
Most vines grow in the interior in the barren valleys of the Columbia River and its tributary the Yakima. Another AVA, Walla Walla, extending up on the territory of Oregon, is even farther to the east; it is one of the warmer wine regions in the state.
The basin of the Columbia River is located in the rain shadow of the Cascade Mountains. With only 200 mm annual rainfall, it 's almost a semi-desert, irrigation from the river is essential. The advantage for the wine are the long hours of sunshine and the consistently high summer temperatures. Sunny days and cool nights allow the grapes to ripen perfectly, the develop ripe fruit flavors with high natural acidity. A big problem is severe frosts in winter, where regularly freeze parts of the vineyard and have to be replanted.
The crop can more than half are lower for such a frost. Because of the sandy soil, the phylloxera is not dangerous, so most vines grow ungrafted.
Varieties
The main grape varieties are Chardonnay, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon elegant mature viable, but the sprawling, dark, extremely concentrated Syrah are too great expectations rise, especially in Walla Walla.