Walla Walla Valley AVA facts for kids
| Wine region | |
 |
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| Type | American Viticultural Area |
|---|---|
| Year established | 1984, amended 2001 |
| Country | United States |
| Part of | Columbia Valley AVA, Oregon, Washington |
| Sub-regions | The Rocks AVA |
| Growing season | 190 to 220 days |
| Climate region | Continental/Mediterranean |
| Precipitation (annual average) | 12.5 inches (31.8 cm) |
| Soil conditions | Loess soil, unstratified calcareous silt |
| Size of planted vineyards | 1,200 acres (486 ha) |
| Grapes produced | Barbera, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenere, Chardonnay, Cinsault, Counoise, Dolcetto, Gewurztraminer, Malbec, Merlot, Nebbiolo, Petit Verdot, Pinot noir, Sangiovese, Semillon, Syrah, Viognier |
| Wine produced | Varietal, Dessert wine, Sparkling wine, Meritage |
| Comments | The AVA (located within the black outline in the blue box) extends south into Northern Oregon |
The Walla Walla Valley AVA is a special area in Washington state where grapes are grown for making wine. A small part of it also reaches into Oregon. It's part of a bigger wine region called the Columbia Valley AVA. Besides grapes, this area is also known for growing tasty sweet onions, wheat, and strawberries. The Walla Walla Valley is one of the top places in Washington for vineyards and wineries, with about 140 wineries located here!
Contents
What's in a Name?
This area gets its name from the Walla Walla river valley.
Geography and Climate
The soil in the Walla Walla Valley is mostly made of loess, which is a type of soil carried by wind. This soil is great for grapevines because it lets water drain away easily. The area doesn't get much rain, so farmers use irrigation to water their plants.
The growing season lasts about 200 days. It has hot days and cool nights, which is good for grapes. The valley can have sudden temperature changes. This happens when cold air from the Blue Mountains gets trapped in the nearby river valleys. While it's usually cooler than the surrounding Columbia Valley, winter temperatures can drop to −20 °F (−29 °C).
The southern part of the Walla Walla Valley stretches into Oregon. This part is one of the warmer grape-growing areas in Oregon. Syrah grapes are a very popular type grown here.
A Look Back: History of Walla Walla Wine
The Walla Walla Valley was important in the early days of the Washington wine industry. The town of Walla Walla started as a trading post in the 1840s. French fur trappers settled nearby and began planting grapes.
In 1859, Walla Walla became a city. A gold rush in Idaho in 1860 made it a busy trade center. But when the gold rush ended, the focus shifted to Seattle in Western Washington. This made Walla Walla less important.
In 1883, a big railway line bypassed the Walla Walla Valley. This cut off the area from the growing markets to the west. That same year, a harsh frost destroyed many grapevines. Many grape growers gave up. Then, Prohibition in the early 1900s stopped all wine production.
The wine industry in Walla Walla started fresh in the 1970s. Leonetti Cellars was founded, growing Cabernet Sauvignon and Riesling grapes. This winery became famous worldwide. Later, Woodward Canyon Winery (1981) and L'Ecole No. 41 (1983) also started. Their success helped the area get its special AVA status in 1984.
Types of Grapes Grown Here
Cabernet Sauvignon is the most popular grape grown in the Walla Walla Valley. Other common grapes include Merlot, Syrah, Sangiovese, and Cabernet Franc.
Here's a look at the main grapes grown in 2007:
- Cabernet Sauvignon - 41% of the planted area
- Merlot - 26% of the planted area
- Syrah - 16% of the planted area
- Cabernet Franc - 4% of the planted area
- Sangiovese - 2% of the planted area
- Chardonnay - 2% of the planted area
- Viognier - 1% of the planted area
- Other red grapes (like Barbera, Malbec, Pinot noir) - 7% of the planted area
- Other white grapes (like Gewurztraminer, Riesling) - 1% of the planted area
