Columbia Valley Wine

Columbia Valley photos, charts, maps, and wines.

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The Columbia Valley AVA is Washington’s all-encompassing region with some 11 million acres of land in all. Included within its confines are six other American Viticultural Areas (AVA) including Yakima Valley, Red Mountain, Walla Walla read more...Valley, Horse Heaven Hills, Rattlesnake Hills and Wahluke Slope. The Columbia Gorge and Puget Sound AVAs are the only appellations in Washington that fall outside of its borders. Despite the number of sub-appellations within its boundaries, there is the potential for further AVA development. The most significant places where the Columbia Valley is the primary appellation and does not overlap another AVA are the Royal Slope, the Columbia Basin, and the vast expanse north of the Rattlesnake Hills, which includes the entire region loosely called Columbia Cascade.

Apart from its sheer size, the Columbia valley is also widely seen on wine labels because many of Washington’s best known wineries are located in the Seattle metropolitan area. These wineries transport grapes over from Eastern Washington to make their wines. The wines are invariably a blend of grapes sourced from various locales, and as a consequence are labeled using the large Columbia Valley AVA. Interestingly, Walla Walla, though an AVA unto itself as well as being home to almost 100 wineries, has very little vineyard. Most of its wines are also labeled Columbia Valley.

The Columbia Valley AVA is geographically defined by mountain ranges which border it on the west and north, and by the Columbia River on the south until it turns north at the Wallula Gap. Here the appellation continues east, following the state line and then dipping down into Oregon to include the southern part of the Walla Walla Valley AVA. The Columbia Valley’s eastern border is loosely defined by the land surrounding the Columbia River as it jogs north, and the Snake River as it runs east.

Any AVA this large will incorporate significant differences in rainfall, soils and climate, but in general the Columbia Valley may be characterized by the fact that it encompasses the Eastern Washington desert. Located in the lee of the Cascade Mountains, the bulk of Eastern Washington is sheltered from the marine climate of Western Washington. Where grapes cannot be grown in this part of the state, it is either too cold in the winter or there is insufficient water for irrigation; however, virtually all Columbia Valley vineyard land is irrigated.

~ Paul Gregutt    (hide)

easterner1 reviewed Murphys Law Red Columbia Valley 2006:

November 2009

easterner1

Murphy's Law will be my new House Red. Its bouquet is filled with plum and dark cherry. A deep red color with black fruits and dashes of olive and charcoal, this silky wine needs an hour or two to breathe, to soften the...

Murphys Law Red Columbia Valley 2006

Starting at $16^.49 Snoothrank: 3/5

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mrsh reviewed Chateau Ste. Michelle Chardonnay 2008:

November 2009

mrsh

Smooth and easy to drink by itself or with a bit of ButterKase cheese.

Chateau Ste. Michelle Chardonnay 2008

Starting at $9^.99 Snoothrank: 3.5/5

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andywhom reviewed Columbia Crest Reserve Merlot Washington State 2003:

November 2009

andywhom

strong berry with complexity peppery mid-palate nice finish gently fading good merlot

Columbia Crest Reserve Merlot Washington State 2003

Starting at $19^.95 Snoothrank: 4/5

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Rob8608 reviewed Columbia Crest Merlot 1997:

November 2009

Rob8608

Columbia Crest Merlot 1997

Starting at $14^.99 Snoothrank: 3.5/5

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vellovino reviewed Substance Syrah 2008:

November 2009

vellovino

Esquin 14.99

Substance Syrah 2008

Starting at $13^.49 Snoothrank: 3/5

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acidflask reviewed Chateau Ste. Michelle Riesling Ethos Late Harvest White Riesling:

November 2009

acidflask

Intensely floral aroma and smooth mouthfeel. This stuff is incredible!

Chateau Ste. Michelle Riesling Ethos Late Harvest White Riesling

Starting at $42^.59 Snoothrank: 3.5/5

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schellbe wrote in the forum topic: Finger Lakes wine trip- Seneca Lake

November 2009

schellbe

We took our honeymoon (bike trip) through the Finger Lakes, and have had a number of trips to the wineries in the past. The best wines made in the Finger Lakes are Riesling and Gewurzrtraminer. The latter are generally...

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rjyoung3 reviewed Jackson Triggs Proprietors Reserve Shiraz 2005:

November 2009

rjyoung3

I cant remember. It must have been good.

Jackson Triggs Proprietors Reserve Shiraz 2005

Starting at $29^.94 Snoothrank: 3/5

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william344 reviewed Snoqualmie Vineyards Syrah 2006:

November 2009

william344

Woodsy, smokey, a little mediciney. Bright and fruit forward. All in all pretty good! I picked up this bottle for 7$ and at that price it is a steal. Probaby a good buy under $10. Side note - real nice flavor on the sides...

Snoqualmie Vineyards Syrah 2006

Starting at $9^.99 Snoothrank: 2.5/5

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Nick75 reviewed Novelty Hill Cabernet Sauvignon 2003:

November 2009

Nick75

Novelty Hill Cabernet Sauvignon 2003

Starting at $18^.99 Snoothrank: 3.5/5

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