1. Yakima Valley
You can find at least 60 different wineries here. The emphasis is on Syrah and Riesling, but with so many wineries, you're bound to find more.
2. Walla Walla Valley
This region has seen a fair bit of growth with almost 100 wineries here. The big emphasis is on cabernet sauvignon. You'll also see Merlot, Chardonnay, and Syrah grapes coming from this region.
3. Columbia Valley
The Columbia Valley is definitely Washington State's wine powerhouse. Ninety-nine percent of the grapes grown in Washington come from the Columbia Valley. Most of these grapes are Riesling, Merlot, Chardonnay, and Cabernet Sauvignon.
4. Puget Sound
Travelling the 45 wineries here, you'll see a lot of emphasis on Madeleine Angevine, a Riesling grape originally from the Loire Valley; Siegerebbe, a white wine grape from Germany, similar to a Gewurztraminer grape; and Muller-Thurgau, a white wine grape that came from a cross between Riesling and Madeleine Royale.
For up-and-coming grapes from the Puget Sound area, keep your eye on Pinot Gris and Pinot Noir.
5. Red Mountain
A fre more than 15 wineries call Red Mountain home. These wineries are known for their Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Syrah, Sangiovese, Malbec, and Petit Verdot. Clearly, a diverse region.
6. Columbia Gorge
In this one region, we have two distinct climates.
Western vineyards in Columbia Gorge produce cooler grapes: Pinot Noir, Gewurztraminer, Chardonnay,Pinos Gris, and Riesling. Eastern vineyards are warmer and can produce the warmer grapes: Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, and Zinfandel.
7. Horse Heaven Hills
In south-east Washington, you'll find the Horse Heaven Hills, best known for their Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay, Riesling, and Syrah.
8. Wahluke Slope
Looking for a drier region in Washington? Wahluke Slope is for you. Here, you'll find a lot of Merlot, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Riesling, Chardonnay, and a more obscure grape addition for Washingon with Chenin Blanc.
9. Rattlesnake Hills
The 17 different wineries in Rattlesnake Hills have chosen to emphasize Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Merlot, Syrah, Chardonnay, and Riesling. Why would you want to build a winery in a place called Rattlesnake Hills? You'll have to ask them.
10. Snipes Mountain
This is a small region, comparatively, for Washington State Wine Country. Just 6 wineries call Snipes Mountain home. But what you lose in quantity, you make up for in character. These wineries have some of the oldest Cabernet Sauvignon vines planted here. And that's worth a look.
11. Lake Chelan
You'll find about 15 wineries here. They're known to produce Syrah, Merlot, Malbec, Riesling, Pinot Gris, Gewurztraminer, Chardonnay, and Pinot Noir.
12. Naches Heights
Last, but not least, Naches Heights has a few wineries worth noting. Here, you'll find Pinot Gris, Riesling, and Syrah.
Happy touring!
