Wine
A Guide to Washington Wineries
The Second-Largest Wine Producing State in the US
October 13, 2023
Washington Wineries Deliver Incredible Diversity and Quality
Do you want to drink internationally acclaimed wines from unpretentious, creative, and independent winemakers? Then it’s time to explore Washington State.
With more than 1,050 wineries, 400 growers, and 60,000 acres of grapes under vine, Washington is second only to California in terms of wine production in the U.S. Washington grows more than 80 varieties of grapes from 20 different American Viticultural Regions (AVAs) across the state.
Plus, more than 90% of wineries make less than 5,000 cases of wine per year, which means they're independently owned and able to control everything that happens from grape to glass. For a taste of the diversity of what independent wineries in Washington are capable of delivering, start with our winery partners, including Pepper Bridge Winery and Amavi Cellars in Walla Walla.
Quick Facts About Washington State’s Wine Regions
Winemaking in Washington began in the 1860s, when Italian and German immigrants came and saw the potential of the soil and climate. Prohibition killed the burgeoning industry, but it was revived in the 1950s by pioneers, and has grown steadily since.
With 20 AVAs and eight wine-touring regions to choose from, deciding which terroir to explore is the kind of delicious problem we love to have at Sommsation. And with Washington State adding, on average, four new wineries to its roster per month, that dilemma—thankfully—is in no danger of being resolved. Some of Washington’s most storied wineries and AVAs are east of the Cascade Mountains, stretching from south-central to southeast Washington, and churning out some of the world's best Syrahs, Merlots, Cabernet Sauvignons and Sauvignon Blancs.
The most famous Washington AVAs include the Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley, and Red Mountain, but other previously lesser-known regions like Rattlesnake Hills and Naches Heights are rising in estimation and fame.
The Columbia Valley is by far Washington’s largest wine region. Not only does it encompass more than 11 million acres, it includes more than 99% of Washington’s wine grapes under vine, and contains 17 of the state’s 20 total AVAs. While the vast majority of Columbia Valley resides in central, south-central, and southeastern Washington, a portion of it spills over into north-central Oregon.
While each AVA offers its own microclimate, a few factors are consistent: Washington wineries experience up to 17 hours of sunlight per day, and the shift in temperature between day and night (known as the diurnal shift) is between 30% and 40%. Sunny conditions during the day and cooler temperatures at night optimize ripeness while maintaining acidity. In other words, Washington wines are, across the board, designed by Mother Nature to be balanced, drinkable young, and eminently ageable.
Sip Your Way Through Washington's Hidden Gems
Unlike Oregon (which is known for Pinot Noir) and California (which has Cabernet Sauvignon), Washington has risen to fame on the backs of many grapes, making it one of the most interesting places for those who enjoy tasting a variety of wines. If you’re ready to test our hypothesis that Washington delivers some of the best under-the-radar gems in the world, read on.
For Cabernet Sauvignon Fans
While Washington is'nt known for its Cabernet Sauvignon alone, this mighty grape draws a lot of wine lovers to its shores—including world-famous winemaking families. When most people think of domestic Cabernet, they think California, and perhaps more specifically, Napa and Sonoma. Washington State first planted Cabernet in the 1940s, and while it was considered too cold to fully ripen Cabernet Sauvignon, pioneers like Norm McKibben have proven the naysayers wrong. McKibben, considered one of the founding fathers of Walla Walla’s wine industry, and has helped transform it from a dot on the wine map—with just 40 acres of grapes under vine—to a world-renowned region with more than 2,800 acres of premium grapes under vine.
Washington Cabernets tend to offer a purity of fruit, herbal aromas and more acidity and structure than California Cabernets generally deliver.
Pepper Bridge’s 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon is a powerful testament to the complexity and pleasure Walla Walla Valley terroir delivers. The wine offers “trademark notes of blackberry and brambles welcome us back in this vintage. Raw vanilla, carob, and anise bring a richness to the nose. The palate is abundant with dark black fruit and spice. Thyme and sage make an appearance and lead to a muscular finish.”
For Syrah Lovers
Syrah is like Sophia Loren. Not for everyone, but those who connect with it will embrace the mysterious, sexy, earthy varietal forever.
For another taste of that lusty, complex grape, try 2020 Sleight of Hand Cellars’ Psychedelic Syrah. You’ll find “aromas of roasted meats, floral citrus blossoms and tobacco. On the palate, notes of plum, green herbs, bacon fat, earth, black pepper spice, and mouth coating tannins.”
For Sémillon Aficionados
Sémillon is one of the most widely planted white varieties in the world, but just a few places grow it well. Sémillon needs sunshine during the day, and cooler flavors at night to achieve balance and ripeness that doesn’t tip over into over-weaning opulence. DeLille Cellars, which sources grapes from some of the state’s grand cru vineyards on Red Mountain (including Ciel du Cheval, Upchurch, Klipsun, and Boushey), makes some of the most widely acclaimed Semillon blends around.
For a taste of Sémillon at its finest, reach for Amavi Cellars' 2022 Sémillon. You’ll find “aromas of beeswax, linden tree blossom, Anjou pear, passion fruit. Flavors of pie crust, green apple, white grapefruit, lemon custard. A creamy and well-rounded mouthfeel with bright and refreshing acidity.”
At Sommsation, we delight in guiding wine lovers to choices that will please their palate, enrich their cellar, and meet their very personal wine education goals. If you have more questions about what to sip next from Washington (or anywhere else), reach out to our staff of 30+ sommeliers, and we’ll find the right person to get you there.
Plan a Visit to Washington's Wine Regions
Independent, passionate winemakers across the world depend on people who buy, share, and appreciate their wines. But visiting a region is arguably a better way for both the winemakers and you to create a bond. Actually visiting the region and vineyard where the grapes were grown—and spending time with the folks who make the wines —brings a whole new level of appreciation and understanding to the experience of drinking those wines.
Washington State welcomes wine tourists year-round, but the best time to visit is in the spring and fall, when you’ll be able to spend time amid the vines and take part in many of Washington’s other fantastic hiking, biking, and river-rafting adventures, without the high heat of the summer or the colder blasts of the winter to worry about.
The wine capital of Washington State is Woodinville Wine Country, and it has served for decades as an incubator for new wineries, and a draw for tourists eager to explore gems from wine country in one walkable town. Nestled in the stunning, walkable and bikeable Sammamish River Valley, just 30 minutes northeast of Seattle, Woodinville is home to more than 100 wineries and tasting rooms from every single grape-growing region in Washington.
You can stroll the beautiful grounds of the state’s biggest winery, then pop over to clusters of boutique wineries in four distinct districts: Hollywood, West Valley, Warehouse, and Downtown. A favorite stop in Woodinville is the tasting room and restaurant at DeLille Cellars: set in the Old Redhook Brewery Building, visitors can enjoy seated wine tastings at a cozy, light-filled Tasting Room, or grab food and wine at The Restaurant.
There are, when you’re not tasting, copious opportunities for boutique shopping, excellent food, and outdoor fun. Woodinville is an ideal one-stop shop for Washington State’s bounty. If—when!—you go, check out Sleight of Hand’s new Woodinville tasting room. The 1,000 square foot space can accommodate 25 inside, and 10 outside. The Woodinville space will have the same music-and-wine soaked vibe of its Walla Walla and Seattle tasting rooms.
But if you’re determined to get a sense of Wine Country itself, consider going to Walla Walla Valley.
Walla Walla offers more than 130 wineries, with 3,000+ acres under vine. The town of Walla Walla, meanwhile, welcomes everyone with a laid-back attitude, offering up great wine, excellent live music venues, a small-town spirit, and outdoor fun.
Before you plan a trip to Washington, use our wine map to find our winery partners and plan a few visits around them. Pepper Bridge Winery, Amavi Cellars, and Sleight of Hand Cellars would love to host you and show you a different side of wine country. Make sure you check out Sleight of Hand Wine Cellars’ collection of 3,000 vintage records—and ask about their surprising connection to Pearl Jam.
