INTRODUCTION
Staking claim to a truly unique place in the world of wine, Washington State stands
at the precipice of the modern American West—geographically, historically, and
stylistically—and Spectacular Wineries of Washington proves a thought-provoking
and visually delightful introduction to this burgeoning winemaking region.
The state comprises a mosaic of landscapes extending from lush evergreen-lined
coasts in the west and towering snow-capped mountains in the center to a vast
sagebrush-laden desert in the east, home to world-renowned vineyards.
Washington State's growing regions also lie in arguably one of the most ideal
latitudes in the Northern Hemisphere, between the 46th and 47th parallels—
identical to France's famed Bordeaux and Burgundy. This northerly position
affords Washington State up to two hours more daylight at the height of its
growing season compared to more southerly regions such as California.
Bisecting the state from north to south, the volcanic Cascade Mountains shield
the eastern agricultural core from the maritime influence of the Pacific Ocean to
the west, providing ample heat accumulation for optimal ripening of a multitude
of classic vinifera varieties. Despite the desert heat, temperatures throughout
this arid region shift dramatically from day to night—sometimes as much as 50
degrees Fahrenheit—preserving abundant natural acidity to balance the pure
expression of varietal fruit character.
While the geography of Washington State has been forming since time immemorial,
it was the cataclysmic Missoula Floods, a series of events originating in western
Montana and sweeping across eastern Washington periodically at the end of the
last ice age around 15,000 years ago, that left behind scores of dramatic bluffs
and canyons and deposited an array of exotic soils not found anywhere else on the
planet. This wonderfully distinct geology forms the literal foundation of Washington
State wine.
by the Washington State Wine Commission
