Welcome to Maxx Guide To Wine
Vineyards Article
. For a permanent link to this article, or to bookmark it for further reading, click here.
The Unique Pleasure of a Washington Wine Tour
from: Maxx Guide to WineWashington state is becoming a popular wine region within the world of wine. There are many small wineries in Washington including the Yakima Valley and Columbia Gorge regions. This region doesn't produce the quantity of wine of California but the quality of their wines actually rival those of Californian vintage.
Washington isn't considered a good growing area by many because they assume Seattle's rainy climate spreads across the entire state. This is a false assumption because the eastern area of the state receives more than 300 nice days each year due to the Cascade Mountains, which block much of the moisture coming from the west. This nice weather plus easy access to water has made the region perfect for growing wine grapes.
A large variety of grape varietals are grown in the nine recognized viticultural areas of Washington. Red wine grapes include Sangiovese, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Syrah. White wine grapes include Chardonnay, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon and Viognier. Each region has a different micro-climate best suited to specific varietals.
A wine tour in Washington is a great way to experience their premium wines. Since many of the wineries are small, family-owned outfits, you often get a more personal and intimate view of the wine making process. Smaller wineries also tend to show more consistency within specific vintages of wine.
Smaller wineries often provide visitors access to their owners and wine makers for conversation and education. Wine tastings may even be held at the wine maker's home, a scenario difficult to imagine in California with its many thousands of tourists.
In Washington, it's a bit more difficult to take a wine tour than in California. Since Napa Valley is quite small, lots of wineries are close together. Wineries in Washington are much more spread out, so touring serveral wineries requires more traveling around.
Gifts from a Washington wine tour are much less expensive than a California tour due, in part, to the relative newness of the Washington wine industry and also because fewer tourists visit the area. In addition, it's unlikely you can get up close and personal during a California tour since there are so many people visiting. On the other hand, Washington wine tours are less known, so there are gift bargains to be had during a Washington wine tour.
Wineries in Washington have experienced an explosion of popularity within the world of wine in recent years. Even though the region is relatively new to wine making, the area is now the second largest wine producer in the United States. Land used for growing wine grapes has tripled over the past ten years with no sign of slowing down.
Check out moderately priced gourmet gift baskets from Cheese and Wine Unlimited!
Wine Gift Baskets
Cellars Wine Club
Vineyards News