While Washington State’s first wine grapes were planted in 1825, the first commercial plantings did not begin until the 1960’s and major production not until the 1970s. Forty years later, Washington is the second largest premium wine producer in the United States behind California.
A row of cabernet sauvignon grapes stretches down a long row in a vineyard on Red Mountain in Washington State DepositPhotos.com
Wine growing regions around Washington State
Washington State has several different wine growing areas or American Viticultural Areas (AVA), as defined by the U.S. Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau. Puget Sound AVA is the only AVA in western Washington (west of the Cascade Mountains). Only 1% of the state’s wine grapes are grown here, as the marine climate is not well-suited to growing grapes.
However, many of the wineries in western Washington source their grapes in the Columbia Valley. Likewise, many of the vintners in eastern Washington have tasting rooms in the Puget Sound region. The remaining Washington State AVA are located in Eastern Washington, either in Columbia Valley or Yakima Valley:
- Ancient Lakes of Columbia Valley
- Candy Mountain
- Goose Gap
- 9Horse Heaven Hills
- Lake Chelan
- Naches Heights
- Rattlesnake Hills
- Red Mountain
- Rocky Reach
- Royal Slope
- Snipes Mountain
- The Burn of Columbia Valley
- Wahluke Slope
- White Bluffs
- Yakima Valley
More info: Established American Viticultural Areas (ttb.gov).
Wine tasting is a fun, affordable way to enjoy a variety of wines – Depositphotos.com
Touring the wine regions of Central and Eastern Washington
Nearly all Washington State wines are produced from grapes grown in central and eastern Washington where the climate and soil provide ideal growing conditions. You can taste wines at hundreds of wineries dotted along the rolling hills of Washington wine growing country.
Two months of the year, in March and August, you can experience Washington Wine month. Tour wine regions and visit hundreds wineries. Listed below are some of our favorite wine tasting areas, in order by distance from Seattle.
Get free shipping on Alaska Airlines Taste and Tote program if you are a Mileage Plan member. The program allows one case of wine to travel free when travelling on Alaska Airlines out of the Walla Walla, Tri-Cities/Pasco, or Yakima Airports.
Popular wine touring locations in Central and Eastern Washington
Leavenworth (120 mi. E of Seattle) features more than 20 wineries at tasting rooms around Front Street, featuring wines from Leavenworth as well as around Washington State.
Wenatchee and Chelan (145-180 mi. E of Seattle) offer tasting and events at over 30 wineries, including the nearby towns of Malaga and Rock Island.
Yakima Valley (150-235 mi. SE of Seattle) has over 120 wineries and several AVAs, including Horse Heaven Hills, Rattlesnake Hills, Red mountain, strewn along a drive from the town of Naches to Benton City (map).
Walla Walla Valley (245-275 mi. SE of Seattle) has over 140 wineries along U.S. highway 12 in and around the downtown area.
More resources for exploring Washington State Wine
Wines Northwest is a comprehensive guide to Pacific Northwest Wines, including Washington State, as well as Oregon, Idaho, and British Columbia.
DiscoverWashingtonWine.com provides comprehensive information about Washington State wine regions.
Wine Country Washington provides information about the wine growing region of Eastern Washington from Yakima to Walla, including tours, maps, events, lodging, and restaurants.
More info: Wine-Touring Regions (washingtonwine.org) and Map My WA Wine (washingtonwine.org)
You might also like: Wine tasting in Seattle and the Puget Sound region (greaterseattleonthecheap.com)
Food & Drink events on our calendar
Listed below are upcoming food festivals, beer and wine tastings, and other food or beverage events.
You might also like: Greater Seattle on the Cheap – Free things to do, cheap fun, discounts and deals in the Seattle-Tacoma metro area
