Specialty of Washington Wineries

Washington state is the produces the second largest amount of wine in the USA. With over 43000 acres of vineyards and over 850 wineries located in the State, the wine production exceeds the local consumption levels and the wine is exported to over 40 countries around the globe.

The average annual rainfall is around 20 cm which is way too low for vineyards. This is due to the fact that the Washington State lies in the leeward side of the Cascade Range. Hence these regions have good irrigation systems.

The area receives good amount of sunlight and constant range of temperatures work in favor of the grapes growing in the vineyards. The State contains 13 regions which are officially recognized as AVAs (American Viticulture Areas) namely:

1. Walla Walla Valley AVA
2. Horse Heaven Hills AVA
3. Warlike Slope AVA
4. Lake Chelan AVA
5. Naches Heights AVA
6. The Yakima Valley AVA
7. Rattlesnake Hills AVA
8. Snipes Mountain AVA
9. The Red Mountain AVA
10. The Columbia Valley AVA
11. Columbia Gorge AVA
12. Puget Sound AVA
13. Ancient Lakes of Columbia Valley AVA

The Puget Sound AVA is the only AVA located towards the west side of the State. The Yakima Valley AVA was the first AVA established in the state and produces over 40% of the total state’s wine produce. The Walla Walla Valley AVA is the fast growing wine-region of the world. The region consists of over 125 wineries and fertile soils with good porosity to support the growth of the wine. With many of the world’s finest winemakers moving to this area, the place got nick named as the "Next Napa Valley".

Washington Wineries Map

As always, there are many websites hosting the different wineries spread across the state. A well-organized listing and map with directions can be found in on Washington Wineries Map.

Well known Wineries in Washington

Here is a list of few of the wineries with which offer a little more than just the usual wine-tasting experience.

Chateau Set Michelle, Woodinville

This winery has the looks of a castle from one of your Disney cartoons. The beautiful architectural features coupled with the greenery of the lawns makes this place the perfect picnic spot. This winery also hosts music concerts for its visitors to enjoy while they sip the delicious CSM wine.

Abuja Winery, Walla Walla

This winery provides you with rooms with amazing views. The scenery of these vineyards is like those described in fairytales. The architecture of the buildings is from the 1900s but the building has been refurbished to match the standards of a modern day hotel. The hotel provides a dining area in the former barn which also serves as a tasting room exclusively for the inn-guests.

Nefarious Cellars, Lake Chelan

This winery is a perfect retreat spot for people who enjoy the experience of a lake house. The Nefarious Cellars winery provides an excellent view of the Lake Chelan. The winery is relatively free from other riff-raff that is generally seen in wineries to promote themselves and attract more visitors. The hospitality and the expertise of the winemaker, Dean and Heather Neff makes this place a peaceful and quiet vinery. The food served at the bistro by the lake gives you the perfect lake house experience. See here for more information.

Determining the best wineries in USA is a cumbersome task in itself. While the state of California is considered to be the wine capital of the country, wine is actually produced in all the 50 states of USA.