Wine Enthusiast
December 19, 2018

Although the state grows many varieties, such as Cabernet Sauvignon and Riesling, they all share distinct qualities that make them uniquely Washington.

Washington grows grape varieties ranging from Aglianico to Zinfandel. Still, a connective thread runs through the state’s wines.

In general, these wines bring together a New World ripeness of flavor (think of the opulence of fruit from wine regions like California and Australia) with an Old World type of acid and tannin structure (similar to the austerity of the wines from places like France and Italy). This creates an expression that straddles the two styles, but remains distinct to Washington. What makes the state’s wines taste the way they do? It’s a combination of three factors: geography, geology and climate.

A Tale of Two Climates

“When I travel, people always say, ‘It’s cold and rainy [in Washington]. How do you ripen Cabernet?’” says Winemaker/Partner Chris Peterson of Avennia. >>>Read the entire article on Wine Enthusiast