Stephen T Colbert Memorial Better Know an AVA

Gretchen Neuman
VinoVerve Editor

The answer is neither. Snipes Mountain is named after an early pioneer to Yakima, Ben Snipes, who built a house at the base of the mountain and established a cattle ranch in the 1850s. The viticultural area is a subset of both the Columbia Valley and Yakima Valley AVAs and is unique due to the existence of rocky aridisols which contain gravel deposits that range in size from that of a fist to melons. The appellation is in the rain shadow of the Cascade Mountains which deprives the region of precipitation and yet lies in the ancient river bed of the Columbia River. The AVA includes Snipes Mountain as well as nearby Harrison Hill and can be located between the towns of Sunnyside and Granger, Washington.

Vineyards were initially planted on the mountain beginning in 1914. Only one winery is currently in operation in the AVA, but other vineyards exist supplies grapes to other wineries. The appellation is one of the smallest in the state with only 4,145 acres in total area of which only 535 are in production.

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Gretchen Neuman
VinoVerve Editor

Designated as an AVA in 2005, Horse Heaven Hills has been producing wine grapes since 1972 when Mercer Ranch owner, Don Mercer planted a seven acre block of Cabernet Sauvignon with the hope of growing grapes that would rival those of Chateau Lafite in Bordeaux. That vineyard, now owned by the Champoux Family in partnership with the Andrew Will, Powers Winery and Woodward Canyon produces high quality Cabernets. Twenty vineyards are located within the AVA, including Washington’s largest which belongs to Columbia Crest. The majority of the vineyards are producing for grapes for wineries in other appellations. Seven wineries call Horse Heaven Hills home.

Wines produced on the south facing slopes of the hills have reduced rot and fungal diseases due to the strong winds blowing up from the Columbia Gorge. Additionally the winds keep the area dry, stressing the vines and producing higher quality fruit. Other varietals produced in the area include: Barbera, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chenin Blanc, Grenache, Malbec, Merlot, Mourvedre, Petit Verdot, Riesling, Roussane, Sauvignon Blanc, Syrah, Viognier and Zinfandel.

The appellation and the mountains got their name from James Gordon Kinney an early settler of the area who, remarking about the knee high grasses that fed the feral horses in the area, “This is surely a horse heaven!” In fact, the fossil record of the area shows that early horses were in the hills as early as 12,000 years ago (the feral horses seen by Kinney were actually re-introduced into North America by the Spanish Conquistadors). Either way, I keep thinking of that Poco album, Legend that had the cover art designed by the late, great Phil Hartman. And yes, that means I am old enough to remember record albums.

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Gretchen Neuman
VinoVerve Editor

Wine has been produced near Lake Chelan since 1891 by Italian immigrants and that 154 acres were planted as of 1949 only 260 acres are currently under cultivation. There are fifteen wineries in the AVA (with one on the way). Grape varietals grown in the region include Syrah, Merlot, Malbec, Riesling, Pinot Gris, Gewürtztraminer, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.

The area is unique in the Columbia Valley due to the micro-climate created by the lake which increases the amount of time that fruit stays on the vine. This allows the additional development of complexity building phenols while keeping the sugars and acids in balance. Additionally glaciers on ice-age Lake Chelan left the appellation with a coarse, sandy soil that is full of quartz and mica.

The Lake Chelan AVA is yet another subset of the Columbia Valley and was designated in April of 2009. . The AVA application for Lake Chelan was delayed for several years as Alcohol and Tabacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) froze all petitions due to a controversy related to the Calistoga designation. It was determined that any winery that included the name of the AVA or substantially similar to it must source 85% of its grapes from within the region. This required five wineries in the AVA with “Chelan” in their names to comply with the regulation.

Nothing is ever simple…

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Gretchen Neuman
VinoVerve Editor

Located completely within the Columbia Valley AVA and within Benton and Yakima Counties, Rattlesnake Hills is a 16 mile long stretch of territory of basalt mountains. The AVA was created in 2006 but has been under cultivation since 1968 when the Morrison Vineyard was planted with Cabernet Sauvignon and Riesling for Chateau St. Michelle. Currently there are nearly 30 vineyards in the area some of which can be found here

Grape varietals grown in the hills include Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, Gewürtztraminer, Malbec, Merlot, Muscat Canelli, Petite Sirah, Riesling, Semillion and Viognier.

The AVA is centered around Zillah, Washington. I am hoping given that I will be in Walla Walla which is relatively close by, that I will get to experience the hills for myself. I was especially relieved to learn that the name “rattlesnake” comes from the shape of the hills… and not for any reptilian invaders in the area. I am like Indiana Jones that way. I hate snakes.

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Gretchen Neuman
VinoVerve Editor

(Editor’s Note: This is another in my on-going explorations of the AVAs in Washington State. Unfortunately, writing all of these posts at the same time has re-ignited my college years love of freaky titles. I apologize in advance.)

The Wahluke Slope is another small AVA located within the Columbia Valley. Established in 2005, it is known primarily for producing Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon and is known as the warmest grape growing region in the State of Washington. Additionally, it is the only appellation that is a single geological landform. It is cradle by the Columbia River and protected by the presence of the Saddle Mountains to the north, but was formed when the Great Missoula Floods tore through ice dams at the end of the last ice age creating an alluvial fan of fine basaltic silt over a short period of time.

In terms of more modern disasters, the AVA is located across the Columbia from the Hanford Site, a decommissioned US DOE nuclear research facility. To the west is the Yakima Firing Range.

The appellation is home to more than 20 vineyards operated by wineries outside of the AVA. There are three wineries operating within the appellation as well.

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Gretchen Neuman
VinoVerve Editor

When I was driving out east for my Grandmother’s birthday last year (can you believe she is 102 already!), I passed all sorts of signs for wineries…

Unfortunately my timing was awful and I didn’t get to visit any in Maryland. I am working on rectifying this in the future and have started mapping out AVAs and wineries.. ok. mostly AVAs.

I was ridiculously close to this AVA and am now annoyed that I missed it.  The Linganore AVA was established August 18, 1983 and contains portions of Frederick and Carroll Counties.  There are 57,600 acres in the area which is part of the Piedmont Plateau northwest of Charm City (Baltimore to the rest of you).

There are 4 wineries in the AVA:

• Linganore Winecellars at Berrywine Plantations
• Loew Vineyards
• Black Ankle Vineyards
• Elk Run Vineyards

Frankly, if I had known that I was that close to Black Ankle, I would have veered off the road in a heart beat.  I have had their wine before and it is great!  Maybe for Nanny’s 103rd!

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Gretchen Neuman
VinoVerve Editor

As I mentioned a while ago, the Calistoga AVA was finally approved after years of negotiations. When the final description was published in the Federal Register and I got right to the mapping of the area (ok, I took some time getting to it).

But here it is! The AVA is located between St. Helena to the southeast and Kellogg on the northwest and is centered around the town of Calistoga.

As always, these maps are done to the best of my puny abilities as a geography nerd and should not be used for land speculation or navigation purposes.

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Gretchen Neuman
VinoVerve Editor

This year’s Wine Blogger’s Conference will be held in Walla Walla, Washington at the end of June. So, naturally, I am preparing for the trip.

The Walla Walla AVA is a subsection of the Columbia Valley AVA and is located in both Oregon and Washington. The AVA was first established in 1984 and later amended in 2001.

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Gretchen Neuman
VinoVerve Editor

Oh, Stephen would be so proud of us… we keep plugging away at our series of AVAs and unlike his series, “Better Know A District”, my series keeps growing.

Happy Canyon of Santa Barbara is certainly proof of that. And yes, when the finally publish the result of the negotiations for the Calistoga AVA, I will map that baby up too. In the meantime, I will keep plugging on the areas that have been around for a while.

That being said, I present to you the next installment:

The Finger Lakes!

The Finger Lakes AVA surround the lionshare of the lakes. There are about 100 wineries in the region, which has been producing wine since the 1820s. The Viticultural Area was established in 1982 and amended in 1987. There are two sub-AVAs for Lake Seneca and Lake Cayuga that I will publish together next week. These two lakes along with Canadaigua and Keuka are the centers for the majority of wine production.

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Gretchen Neuman
VinoVerve Editor

As if Santa Barbara doesn’t sound pleasant enough for you, this AVA tops it! Happy Canyon of Santa Barbara sounds beachy and bucolic.

This American Viticultural Area is located in Santa Barbara County in California. It is located between and and abutting the Los Padres National Forest and the Lake Cachuma Recreation Area. Currently, there are six wineries in the AVA:

• Cimarone
• Grassini
• Happy Canyon Vineyard (HCV)
• McGinley
• Star Lane
• Vogelzang

The AVA became official November 9, 2009.

Please note that this map is not to be used for navigation….

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