2008 August | homewineschool.com

Oregon AVA’s

On August 25, 2008, in Oregon, wine geeks, by ngorevic

There are currently 6 AVA's in Oregon, with many more seeking approval. Willamette Valley, for example, has several sub-regions that could be classified as AVA's. The interesting paradox in Willamette though, is that many winemakers do not want to give up the Willamette Valley AVA on their bottles, because they fear they would lose the prestige Willamette has come to represent. Columbia Valley and Walla Walla are two of the Oregon AVA's, but they mostly lie within Washington state, and while there grapes grown there, there are no actual Oregon wineries in the AVA's.

Willamette Valley

Willamette is Oregon's primary wine producing area. It runs North to South and lies about 50 miles east of the Pacific, which gives the area a maritime climate. Most of the vineyards are planted on the sides of the hills on the western side of the Valley. Willamettte Valley features Red Jory Clay and Willakenzie Alluvial Soil. The 4 sub-regions of the valley, all of which could be considered as a sub-AVA, are the Red Hills of Dundee, Eola Hills, South Salem Hills, and the area just to the west of Eugene.

Umpqua Valley

Umpqua Valley is just south of Willamette. The Valley has many hillsides that offer drainage from the rivers in the area. It is drier and warmer than Willamette, and allows many different grapes to be grown, including Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc, and Riesling.

Rogue Valley

The Rogue Valley is the longest standing wine area in Oregon. It has two distinct climactic areas. In the western area, the Illinois Valley, the Pacific Ocean's proximity exerts a great deal of cooling influence, and Pinot Noir is most common. South of the Valley, the Rogue River sub-region is more sheltered from the Ocean, and the warmer drier climate is better for Bourdeaux style varietals, as well as Chardonnay.

Applegate Valley

Applegate Valley is Oregon's newest AVA. It separates the Rogue Valley into North and South. It has deep soils that drain very well, and has warm days and cool nights. The best wines from this area are intense full-bodied reds including Merlot, Syrah, Zinfandel, Cabernet Franc, and Cabernet Sauvignon.

Oregon Climate

On August 25, 2008, in Oregon, wine geeks, by ngorevic

Oregon is located at the exact same latitude as Burgundy in France, the other predominantly Pinot Noir area in the world. During the summer, the breezes from the Pacific combined with the northerly location result in warm summer days and cool autumns. The growing season here is relatively long, which gives the grapes a chance to gradually ripen. It typically rains in late fall and winter in Oregon, after the grapes have already been harvested. In the Willamette Valley, it rains much less in Oregon during growing season than it does in Burgundy. Almost all of Oregon's wine producing areas are protected from the effects of the Pacific Ocean by the Cascade Mountains and the Coastal Range.

Oregon Grape Varieties

On August 25, 2008, in Oregon, wine geeks, by ngorevic

Pinot Noir is the dominant grape variety in Oregon. The cool climate during the ripening period is essential for Pinot Noir. Yields are kept low to maintain quality. The best soil types for Pinot Noir in Oregon are Red Jory Clay, Nekia, and a clay loam called Willakenzie Alluvial Soil. The Red Jory has excellent drainage and brings out the cherry fruit flavors sometimes found in Pinot Noir. Nekia needs added drainage and irrigation but Willakenzie soil drains on its own and holds water very well. Both of these soil types produce Pinot Noirs that feature black fruit flavors, and tend to be higher in tannins.

As far as white grapes go, Chardonay is the largest in production. Pinot Gris is on the rise however, and it's quality is often more reliable. Pinot Gris from Oregon shows strong fruit flavors and often an essence of honey.

Oregon Wine Laws

On August 25, 2008, in Pacific Northwest, wine geeks, by ngorevic

Oregon has some of the most stringent legal requirements in the United States. If the label states a varietal, the bottle must contain at least 90% of that grape variety. There is an exception made, however, for Cabernet Sauvignon, which only needs to contain 75%. The bottle must also contain 95% of the stated vintage grapes, and if an AVA is listed, 100% of the grapes must be grown within that AVA. Chaptalization is also forbidden.

Oregon

On August 25, 2008, in Pacific Northwest, wine geeks, by ngorevic

Oregon got on the international wine map in 1979, when a major French wine négociant, Robert Drouhin, held a blind tasting in Paris to compare Pinot Noirs. David Lett's 1975 Pinot Noir took second in this competition, and suddenly the world was aware that Oregon could be a source of outstanding Pinot Noir. Today Oregon is the 4th leading state in the US producing wine, with 12,000 acres under vine, and about 250 wineries.

Washington AVA’s

On August 25, 2008, in Pacific Northwest, wine geeks, by ngorevic

Washington State currently has 9 AVA's, with many more currently awaiting approval.

Puget Sound

Puget Sound is the only AVA west of the cascade mountains. This area does recieve a large amount of rain, but most of it happens during the winter, outside of the growing season. In the summer the weather is mild and dry. Because of this area's loose cement subsoil retains a lot of water, the vines can survive the dry summer without irrigation. The primary grapes here are a varietal called Madeleine Angevin, and Muller-Thurgau.

Columbia Valley

Columbia valley was established as an AVA in 1984, and is Washington's largest AVA, with over 11 million acres and 17,000 acres under vine. There are many micro-climates in the valley, allowing for a great diversity in plantings. The best vineyards are located on south facing slopes where they can benefit from extra sunlight. All the other AVA's in the city, except for Puget Sound, are located inside the Columbia valley.

Yakima Valley

The Yakima valley was the first AVA in Washington, established in 1983. It comprises about 11,000 acres and about a third of the states vineyards. The valley is divided into two distinct climactic zones-- the cooler western side, and the hotter eastern side. The most common grape here is Chardonnay, with large amounts of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. Yakima valley was the first place Syrah was ever planted in Washington.

Walla Walla Valley

Walla Walla is a small area in the southeast corner of Washington, and is actually shared with Oregon. It gets more rainfall than the rest of the state, thus dry farming is possible here. Cabernet Sauvignon leads the way here, followed by Merlot, Chardonnay, and Syrah.

Red Mountain

Red Mountain is a more recent AVA, having been established in 2001. It is on the easterm edge of the Yakima Valley, and is known for its red wine production, including Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Sangiovese. It also produces high quality Sauvignon Blanc. The vineyards here are all located at elevation, and take advantage of slopes to get more sun exposure. Winds from the north help to keep temperatures cool. These conditions usually produce wines that are dark, dense, alcoholic, and tannic.

Horse Haven Hills

Horse Haven Hills is just south of the Yakima Valley and bordered to the south by the Columbia river, which moderates the temperature of the area. Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon are the most common grapes here.

Columbia River Gorge

Columbia River Gordge is just west of Horse Haven Hills, along the Columbia River. It feature volcanic bedrock and has granite and schist soil. The most successful grapes here are Chardonnay, Gewurtztraminer, and Sauvignon Blanc.

Wahluke Slope

The Slope is just north from Yakima Valley. Its most famous vineyard is the Cold Creek Vineyard, which boasts the longest growing season in the entire Columbia Valley. It has a lot of different growing areas, and thus all the major grapes of Washington state are grown here.

Rattlesnake Hills

Rattlesnake Hills is the newest AVA in Washington, established in 2006/ It covers about 1,500 acres under vine, and the altitude of the vineyards can get as high as 3,000 feet, which is the highest in the state. The soil is finer than other areas and has a neutral pH. The most common grapes here are Chardonnay, Riesling, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Merlot, and Syrah.

Washington Climate

On August 25, 2008, in Washington State, wine geeks, by ngorevic

The most important influence on the climate in Washington is the Cascade Moutain range, which separate Seattle from the rest of the state. On the western side, there is a great deal of rain and temperatures are cooler. But on the eastern side, where the columbia valley is located, there is very little rain, and the climate is quite arid, almost desert-like. Because of the dryness, irrigation is usually required in this area. Warm temperatures during the day, and cool temperatures at night help preserve acidity. Because of its northerly latitude, Washington also receives about 2 hours of sunlight more than California per day. Because of cold winters and sandy soils, Washington has never had a problem with Phylloxera.

Washington Grape Varieties

On August 25, 2008, in Pacific Northwest, Washington State, wine geeks, by ngorevic

Slightly more red wine is produced in Washington than white. The most common varietals include Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Chardonnay, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, and Semillon.

Merlot became known in the early 1990's in Washington. The classic expression of Washington Merlot is flavors of sweet cherries and berries, and aromas like spice, mint, and cedar often add additional complexity.

Most of the Cabernet Sauvignon produced in Washington is of the fairly fruity variety. The wines are age-worthy, and are often used in Bourdeaux style blends.

Syrah has been rising in popularity in Washington. The wines produced here are big, concentrated wines, with black fruit and coffee.

Chardonnay is the most commonly produced grape, and the wine produced here is usually crisp and delicate.

Riesling is found in dry and slightly sweet wines in Washington, and there is some botrytis happening, enabling the production of late harvest and ice wines.

Semillon wines are produced in Washington, and are usually designed to be drank when they are young and very fruity. Some of them can age, however, and reduce in fruit, developing nutty characteristics. Some late harvest Semillon is also produced.

Sauvignon Blanc in Washington often has herbaceous flavors, and is sometimes labeled as Fumé Blanc here.

Washington Wine Quality Alliance

On August 25, 2008, in Washington State, wine geeks, by ngorevic

The Washington Wine Quality Alliance (WWQA) was established in 1999 and was an voluntary effort started by winemakers, to ensure quality in their wines. The WWQA defined the term, reserve for wines, as a wine of higher quality than its other wines, which must comprise noe more than 3,000 cases, or 10 percent of the wineries total production. They also stated that wine with Washington State on the bottle must be made from grapes only from Washington state. If a varietal is listed on the bottle, the wine must contain at least 75% of the stated grape. They also forbid the use of the terms Champagne, Burgundy, Bourdeaux, and Chablis. If a winemaker chooses to participate in the WWQA, the bottle will display its logo.

Washington

On August 25, 2008, in Pacific Northwest, wine geeks, by ngorevic

Washington state's wine history dates back as early as 1825, when French, German, and Italian immigrants planted vines. As in many other areas of the United States, however, Prohibition in the 1920's dealt a huge blow to Washington's wine business. After prohibition there were a few small wineries scattered across the state that produced very inexpensive wine from local varities. Two of them included Pomerelle and Nawico, which make up part of one of Washington's most well known and largest winery, Chateau Sainte Michelle. Chateau Ste Michelle brought in Andre Tchelistcheff, the famous winemaker from Napa, to establish the winery.

Washington state has a large variety of of grapes being grown, and a lot of it is very high quality. In the last 30 years the number of wineries in the state has grown from about 20, to about 240 today. The area is located at a latitude that it right between Burgundy and Bourdeax. It has lots of sunlight, and the many rivers, lakes, and the influence of the Pacific ocean have created a number of different areas that can grow the wide diversity of grapes.