Washington State Wine 101
Washington 2 nd Largest Producer in US Washington State produces: Premium wines of superior quality Range of varieties Distinctive character Unique balance of Old World and New World Wineries: >900 Acres: >53,000 Growers: ~350 Tons: 220,000
Wineries By Top 3 States California - 3,458 Washington - 795 >900 Oregon - 463
The U.S. Wine Market - Washington Licensed Wineries Adding ~4 new wineries per month 1,000 900 800 700 600 500 400 300 200 100 0 1981 1986 1993 1999 2002 2003 2004 2006 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
Diversity
Superior Quality Wine Spectator Percent of 90+ Scores 60% 50% 40% 30% 32% 40% 35% 30% 29% 28% 42% 46% 41% 41% 38% 42% 32% 34% 35% 35% 32% 32% 44% 49% 48% 46% 37% 41% 46% 50% 50% 47% 44% 44% 20% 10% 0% California France Italy Oregon Washington 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 Average
Superior Quality Wine Spectator Price, USD $120 $106 $100 $80 $60 $40 $64 $74 $65 $76 $77 $71 $100 $96 $94 $90 $78 $69 $75 $72 $71 $67 $55 $47 $50 $48 $48 $49 $48 $42 $44 $41 $43 $43 $43 $20 $0 California France Italy Oregon Washington 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 Average
Washington State Premium Growing Region Geography Geology Viticulture
Perfect Climate for Wine Grapes
Global Positioning World Viticultural Zones
Geography Fourteen AVAs
Rain Shadow Effect The Columbia Valley is protected from wet weather systems by two major mountain ranges, the Olympics and the Cascades, creating the perfect climate for wine in the warm and dry eastern part of the state. Average Annual Rainfall Napa Valley: 25 35 Bordeaux: 20 30 Columbia Valley: 6 10
Annual Rainfall Comparison 40 ANNUAL RAINFALL, IN INCHES 35 25-35 30 20-30 25 20 15 10 6-10 5 0 Napa Valley Bordeaux Region Columbia Valley
Annual Rainfall Comparison 240 35-40 6-10 15 Snow
Daily Sunlight Peak Growing Period 17 hours Equator (0 degrees) 38 degrees North 45 degrees North 12 hours 0 38 8 hours 45 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Heat Accumulation Average GDD 4000 3500 3000 2500 2000 1500
Rapid Cooling Mean Temp by Month 80 70 60 REINGAU 50 BURGUNDY 40 30 20 10 0 JULY AUGUST SEPTEMBER OCTOBER COLUMBIA VALLEY BORDEAUX NAPA VALLEY CLARE VALLEY
Diurnal Shift Significant and Beneficial Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec 38 C Warm Daytime Temps + 27 C 16 C 4 C 5 9-2 -1 14 2 18 5 23 9 27 12 31 31 15 14 26 10 18 4 9 1 3-2 Chilly Nighttime Temps (17 C difference) = Ripeness of phenolics and balancing acidity -7 C Average High Average Low
Ample Water Supply Fourth largest river, by volume, in the US Largest flowing into the Pacific Ocean Drainage basin of the Columbia River and its tributaries is roughly the size of France, covering seven US states
Geology What Makes the PNW Unique? Volcanoes Floods GSD Glacial Slackwater Deposits Winds Basalt Loess
Geology Active Volcanic Region Region rich with Volcanic history Basalt foundation for entire Columbia Valley * IMAGE SOURCED FROM OUTDOORPROJECT.ORG
Geology Basalt Foundation Columbia Valley area lava seam caused one of the fastest lava flows earth has seen (30 million years ago) sheer weight created the valley! Cascade Range volcanoes contributed Subsoil strata: Basalt * IMAGE SOURCED FROM OUTDOORPROJECT.ORG
Geology Missoula Floods * IMAGE SOURCED FROM OUTDOORPROJECT.ORG
Geology Missoula Floods Floods occurred 30-40 times from 15,000 to 13,000 years ago * IMAGE SOURCED FROM WINE FOLLY
Geology Missoula Floods Deposited nutrients throughout eastern Washington up to 1,200 feet above sea level * IMAGE SOURCED FROM WINE FOLLY
Geology Missoula Floods Cycle lasted an average of 55 years Missoula flood sediments lie 0-100 ft deep
Geology Missoula Floods Loamy Fine Sand and Gravel Wind-Deposited Sandy Loam (Loess) Loamy Sand and Gravel Deep Coarse Loamy Sand Dark Silt Loam with Sand Calcium Carbonate Deep Silt Loam Basalt Bedrock Basalt Bedrock
Persistent Winds & Loess Effects of Loess Decreases shoot growth, producing smaller canopies Reduces berry size Reduces disease pressures Reduces photosynthesis, which may prolong harvests
Phylloxera Free Soil types are not conducive for pests Winter Freeze kills many pests Arid temps and wind help control development of fungal diseases (less need for spray) Allows for planting on natural rootstock
Our Terroir Quality Fruit = Superior Wine Recipe for Success Plenty of Sunlight 2 hours more 300+ days Diurnal Shift Ripeness of Phenolics / Balanced Acidity Rain Shadow Effect 6-10 inches Low Pest and Disease Pressure No Phylloxera Dry Climate Lean Soils Persistent Wind Cold Winters Terroir (French pronunciation: [tɛʁwaʁ] from terre, "land") is the set of special characteristics that the geography, geology and climate of a certain place, interacting with plant genetics, express in agricultural products such as wine.
Comments & Questions * DATA & IMAGES SOURCED FROM WASHINGTONWINE.ORG