Yakima Valley AVA [YAK-uh-maw] | Wine Terms

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Yakima Valley AVA
[YAK-uh-maw]

Although Yakima Valley, which is in the south central part of Washington State, was the first designated AVA in the northwest, it’s now encompassed by the much larger COLUMBIA VALLEY AVA. The Yakima Valley AVA encompasses approximately 665,600 acres, starting just southwest of the city of Yakima and flowing southeast almost reaching Kennewick in the Tri-Cities area. It has some of the coolest weather in the Columbia Valley and grows a great number of CONCORD grapes, most of which are used for juice. In 2001, a small 4,000-acre section in the southeastern portion overlooking Benton City was approved as the Red Mountain AVA—named after this area’s Red Mountain, the name of which comes from the red-hued native grasses on its slopes. Yakima Valley has over 10,000-planted acres, 700 of which are in the Red Mountain area. In order of popularity, the vineyards are planted to CHARDONNAY, MERLOT, CABERNET SAUVIGNON, RIESLING, SYRAH, GEWÜRZTRAMINER, SAUVIGNON BLANC, CABERNET FRANC, PINOT GRIS, and CHENIN BLANC.

Related Links: Washington, American Viticultural Area (AVA)

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