Walla Walla is a wine region within Columbia Valley that straddles both Oregon and Washington. Wine-making began in the mid-1800s, when an influx of pioneers, many of them Italian immigrants, who first settled in the area for the burgeoning fur trade and the Idaho gold rush. Though the commercial wine industry didn’t catch on in the region until the 1950s when the Pesciallo family established Blue Mountain Vineyards, the first in the region since the Prohibition.
By the 1970s, wine-makers could see the potential for greatness thanks to climate conditions conducive to long growing seasons. The Cascade Mountain forms a natural rain shadow that protects the region, resulting in hot days and cool nights. There are a variety of terroirs extending through the region from the Blue Mountains downward. Glacial melt from the time of the Ice Age has left a deposit of rich, grape-friendly silt in much of the growing region. Walla Walla was granted AVA status in 1984.
Walla Walla is a wine region within Columbia Valley that straddles both Oregon and Washington. Wine-making began in the mid-1800s, when an influx of pioneers, many of them Italian immigrants, who first settled in the area for the burgeoning fur trade and the Idaho gold rush. Though the commercial wine industry didn’t catch on in the region until the 1950s when the Pesciallo family established Blue Mountain Vineyards, the first in the region since the Prohibition.
By the 1970s, wine-makers could see the potential for greatness thanks to climate conditions conducive to long growing seasons. The Cascade Mountain forms a natural rain shadow that protects the region, resulting in hot days and cool nights. There are a variety of terroirs extending through the region from the Blue Mountains downward. Glacial melt from the time of the Ice Age has left a deposit of rich, grape-friendly silt in much of the growing region. Walla Walla was granted AVA status in 1984.
Walla Walla is know for its focused and concentrated reds from Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Merlot, with more recent emphasis on Sangiovese and Cabernet Franc. The whites cultivated are mainly Chardonnay with some Sauvignon Blanc and Gewürztraminer.
For a while, the trend was for wine-makers to source grapes from other parts of the Columbia Valley for its wines. However, more recently, some reputable wines are produced from grapes that are grown only in Walla Walla terroirs. The region is also shifting more emphasis on sustainable wine-making practices as technologies advance.
– Description from
Amanda Schuster
(hide)
Stay Connected
Get our free newsletter
SubmitSnooth Newsletters