Yakima Valley AVA
Yakima Valley American Viticultural Area ( briefly: Yakima Valley AVA) is a wine region in the south of the U.S. state of Washington. Yakima Valley was the first recognized appellation of Washington ( recognized since 1983) and, with its 4,400 hectares part of the national Columbia Valley AVA. The main grape varieties are Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, Chardonnay and Riesling. Almost 40 percent of the wine production of the State of Washington are from here ..
In addition to the wine-growing region thrives on fruit growing. Near the town of Zillah the tourist route Zillah Fruit Loop through the orchards of apple, cherry, nectarine, peach, pear and plum. 80 percent of U.S. hops is also from this region.
Geography and climate
To meet today's popular notion of terroir bill, the Yakima Valley area has been divided into sub-regions:
- Red Mountain AVA in the east of the area
- Rattlesnake Hills AVA in northern
- Horse Heaven Hills AVA in southern Gebierts
- Wahluke Slope AVA
The Cascade mountain range lying to the west shields the area from his Lee from precipitation. The dry climate requires irrigation of vineyards. A total of 240,000 hectares of land were released for the production of wine. From this huge area (compared to the total vineyard area of Germany amounts to almost 100,000 hectares) are nearly 4,400 acres in earnings. Most of the area lies in Yakima County, the eastern portions overlap into neighboring Benton County. The cities of Yakima and Prosser are the most important trade centers in the region and provide easy access to a variety of vineyards. To the west of Mount Adams determines the landscape.
Compared to the rest of the Columbia Valley AVA, the climate is more temperate.
History
The first documented plantings put a native of Lorraine Charles Schanno to in 1869. Schanno bought the necessary seedlings in The Dalles in Oregon as well as the Hudson 's Bay Company. In the early 20th century, a native of Seattle, William B. Bridgeman influenced viticulture in Yakima Valley quite essential. He campaigned for the irrigation of vines and put myself first plantings in 1914. In addition, the majority of the seedlings was later used for applying new vineyards from his farm. Later he also commercialized the first dry -developed Riesling from Washington.