Discover Washington
Wine Country
Our Washington Wine Travel Guide shares a brief history of the state, terroir, where to sip, where to stay and things to do beyond the vines
Washington is commonly known for being home to the first Starbucks, but coffee isn’t the only beverage the state is popular for. Washington is a premium wine producing region. Although Washington State has a relatively young wine industry, it is the nation’s second largest wine producer and ranks among the world’s top wine regions. Washington wines can be found in all 50 states and in more than 40 countries around the globe.
Winemakers from Italy to Australia, and everywhere in between have established themselves in Washington. They have crafted unique wines that reflect the distinct characteristics of the region, and are consistently receiving praise from regional, national and international critics for their high-quality hand-crafted wines. Washington receives a higher percentage of high scores from the top wine publications than other leading wine regions.
TOP GRAPE VARIETIES IN WASHINGTON
Washington state produces more than 80 different types of grape varieties.
White Grapes
- Chardonnay
- Riesling
- Sauvignon Blanc
- Pinot Gris
RED Wine Grapes
HISTORY OF WASHINGTON WINE COUNTRY
Washington’s wine history dates all the way back to 1825 when the Hudson’s Bay Company planted the first grapes at Fort Vancouver.
In 1854, hybrid varieties had already arrived on scene in the Puget Sound region, and by 1860 wine grapes were planted in Walla Walla Valley. French, German and Italian immigrants established early planting, and by 1910 wine grapes were plentiful in many areas of the state.
Runoff from the melting snowcaps of the Cascade Mountains allowed for large-scale irrigation that rapidly fueled the expansion of the wine grape acreage in the early part of the 20th century. The first annual Columbia River Valley Grape Carnival in Kennewick was held in 1910.
The onset of Prohibition in 1920 deterred wine production in Washington. However, as luck would have it, this inspired an interest in home winemaking and by the end of Prohibition, the first winery was established on Puget Sound’s Stretch Island. The industry continued to mature and there were 42 wineries by 1938. The first commercial-scale plantings began in the 1960s.
Washington is the second largest producer of premium wine in the United States.
More than 60,000 acres are planted to vinifera grapes, and 40 percent of those have been planted in the last 10 years. There are 8- different grape varieties are produced in Washington with a ratio of 42 percent white and 58 percent red wine.
Washington is home to more than 1,000 wineries and 19 AVAs (American Viticultural Areas).
Planning Your Washington Wine Country Vacation
WASHINGTON WINE TASTING ITINERARIES
WASHINGTON REGIONAL GUIDES
GETTING AROUND
Private drivers may seem like a dime a dozen, but not all those dimes are equal. Look for those who are well rated and/or ask your hotel for recommendations.
BEYOND THE VINES
If you’re looking for things to do besides sipping in the Washington wineries, we have A LOT OF IDEAS for things to do in WA that go well beyond the vines.
Olympic National Park & Mount Rainier National Park
Seattle: Pike Place Market, Pioneer Square, Benaroya Hall
Meet the Winemakers
Carpe Travel’s wine experts sit with top winemakers from regions around the world. Check out these local interviews and learn more about the people who make your favorite wines!
Sip in More Washington Wine Country
Elaine Schoch is an award-winning travel writer, wine judge, American Wine Specialist and certified by the Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET II). At Carpe Travel she shares wine travel destination guides for ALL WINE LOVERS – from novices to experienced pros – to help them plan their wine adventures, arming them with insider tips, must-visit spots, and things to see and do beyond the vines.