Washington (White)

Soil: Sandy

Grape: Chardonnay, notable Riesling

Climate: Mostly Temperate & Dry in the mountains irrigation is needed due to the 6 to 8 inches of rain fall; but can be Cool & Damp in the land under the clouds

Regions:  Puget Sound AVA – Has white wines that are often compared to Bordeaux.  With unknown grape varieties such as Madeleine Angevine and Müller-Thurgau.  Benefit of Dry climate and sandy soil helps winemakers avoid phylloxera. 

Historical Figures:  One of the earliest recorded plantings in the Puget Sound area was done in 1872 by an American Civil War veteran named Lambert Evans on Stretch Island, near modern day Allyn-Grapeview. Evan planted several varieties of Vitis labrusca there.

T. Parker Discovering Washington Wines pg 7 Raconteurs Press 2002

Ron Irvine was the first person to bring Pinot Noir in the region.  http://washingtonwine.org/25/profiles/ron-irvine

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *