AVA | Columbia Gorge | WA
Established in 2004, the Columbia Gorge AVA is Washington state’s westernmost appellation east of the Cascade Mountains. A shared appellation with Oregon, the 40-mile long Columbia Gorge is notable for its diversity, with very dry regions to the east as well as areas to the west that receive so much rain they are able to dry farm – an extreme rarity in eastern Washington.
Less than an hour east of Portland, nestled between the majestic peaks of Mt. Hood and Mt. Adams lies the Gorge Wine region. This grape- growing region is defined by the Columbia River as it cuts through the Cascade Range at the only sea level passage, between the Arctic Circle to San Francisco in the Western Cordillera Ranges. Here, vineyards experience an alpine influence due to proximity to the Cascade Mountain Range — terrains range from sea level to mountainous altitudes with many variables for orientations. The dramatic transition in landscape and climate is enhanced by the cool moisture flowing eastward from the ocean, bringing 50 inches of rain per year to the eastern foothills of the Cascades and dropping to as little as 10 inches to the region’s arid eastern end.
As a result, western vineyards have more of a maritime influenced climate, ideal for cool climate grapes; eastern vineyards have a continental climate, better suited to warm weather varieties.
Climatically, the Columbia Gorge is also notable for its near-constant winds due to pressure differentials caused by cool air from the Pacific Ocean meeting warm arm from eastern Washington’s deserts. Most vineyards on the Washington side of the appellation are planted on south-facing slopes in order to receive as much sunshine as possible and to protect from wind.
Notably, the Columbia Gorge is one of eastern Washington’s only growing regions that lies outside of the Columbia Valley appellation, which it abuts