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 Washington state's emergence as a world-class wine region is well recognized by the professional wine world but this message hasn't quite reached all wine enthusiasts. This will change as the quality of Washington wines continues its upward trajectory and the number of wineries in the state increases beyond the current 500 or more in operation today. For wine enthusiasts not yet acquainted with the wines of Washington, this is an excellent time to discover the multitude of different varietals and styles of wine crafted in the state.
The quality is superb and values are excellent. Washington wines regularly win top awards in national and international wine competitions and many of these are priced well below their counterparts from premium California wineries. As the value of the U.s. dollar continues to fall, Washington wines offer a compelling alternative to European wines from France, Germany, and Italy. Washington is the second largest wine producer in the U.S. after California. Although production is far smaller than California, virtually all of Washington's output consists of premium quality wine. One of the reasons Washington wines don't yet share the world recognition of wines from Napa Valley and other premium California wine regions is that the story of Washington as a great wine region isn't readily apparent. Most people associate Washington state with Seattle, which conjures images of a rainy climate and snow in winter. While this is an accurate description of Seattle's climate in the western part of the state, most wine grapes are grown in the eastern part which is quite dry and has more than 300 days of cloud-free weather annually. The Cascade Mountains block moisture from the west, creating a dry climate ideal for growing wine grapes with ready access to water for irrigation from numerous rivers, underground aquifers, and lakes. Grapes are grown across the state in regions that have different micro-climates conducive for growing many wine varieties. Leading red wine grape varietals include Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Cabernet Franc, and Sangiovese. The leading white varietals are Chardonnay, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, and Viognier. Currently Washington has nine American Viticultural Areas (A.V.A.s) recognized by the federal government ranging from the Puget Sound A.V.A. in the far West to the Walla Walla A.V.A. in the state's southeastern corner. Washington's late arrival as a wine region compared to California has enabled wine growers and winemakers to benefit from modern technology as the state's wine industry and regions develop. The wine community is very progressive in terms of sharing technical information, pooling marketing efforts, and boosting a fast-growing wine tourism industry. The vibrant wine industry has attracted talented winemakers from around the world to wineries across Washington state where they continue to innovate and raise the wine quality bar. A "wine corridor" for tourism has developed from Woodinville near Seattle, across the Yakima Valley through Yakima, Prosser, the Tri-Cities region, and ending in Walla Walla. The charming town of Walla Walla, famous for sweet onions, has seen an explosion in the number of wineries and tasting rooms, from only a handful in the 1980s to more than 150 today. Other emerging wine regions include the Columbia Gorge region and wineries in the Columbia Cascades, near Wenatchee, Lake Chelan, and points north. Touring Washington's wine regions isn't as easy as driving an hour from San Francisco to the Napa Valley in California, but it can be equally, if not more rewarding. Most wineries are small, and many are family-owned. There's a good chance you'll be poured wine tasting samples by the winemaker himself - or herself, something that's harder to come by in California these days. A two or three day excursion from Seattle through the Columbia Gorge or the Yakima Valley is enough to visit many highly regarded wineries and to experience spectacular scenery in the process. For visitors to Seattle with less time to spend, it is possible to sample Washington wines by visiting a number of local tasting rooms and also to visit a number of wineries concentrated in nearby Woodinville which requires only a short drive across Lake Washington. There are many options available for discovering one of America's new great wine regions before it becomes as widely known - and crowded - as California's popular premium wine destinations. Tom Parker is a freelance wine and travel writer based in Seattle, Washington. He has followed his interest in wine, travel, and history to destinations around the world, including Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Asia, and Europe. http://www.raconteurs.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tom_R_Parker |
