Washington State Wine Overview

What is Washington wine?

2

Washington State produces:•Premium wines of superior quality•Range of varieties•Distinctive character•Unique balance of Old World and New World

Global Perspective

3

Global Wine Production• Italy – 19%• France – 18.5%• Spain – 13%• United States – 8%

U.S. Wine Grape Production• Washington – 50,000+ acres; 200,000 tons (est. 2013)• California – 543,000 acres; 4,000,000 tons

−Napa Valley - 45,500 acres

The US Wine Market

4

228 Million U.S. Adults in 2012

The US Wine Market

5

US Adult Wine Drinkers vs. Total Populations of other Wine Producing Countries

The US Wine Market

6

Total Table Wine Consumption in U.S.

US Wine Industry - # of wineries

7

A Brief History of WA Wine

8

• Wine grapes first planted at Fort Vancouverin 1825

• Prohibition repealed in 1933• Dr. Walter Clore begins wine research at WSU

station in Prosser in 1937• Commercial-scale plantings began in the

1960s• Chateau Ste. Michelle founded in 1967• Washington State Wine Commission

established in 1987

Washington State Wine Today

9washingtonwine.org

• 800+ Wineries today−19 in 1981−170 in 2001−350+ in 2005

• 350+ Grape Growers• Approx. 12.5 mil cases produced

Phenomenal Growth

10

Grapes Grown

11

Loamy Fine Sand and Gravel

Loamy Sand and Gravel

Deep Coarse Loamy Sand

Basalt Bedrock

Wind-Deposited Sandy Loam

Dark Silt Loam with Sand

Calcium Carbonate

Deep Silt Loam

Basalt Bedrock

Critical Acclaim from Wine SpectatorCritical Acclaim from Wine Spectator

Percent of 90+ 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 AverageScoresCalifornia 30 29 40 35 28 32France 38 41 41 46 42 42Italy 34 35 32 35 32 34Oregon 37 49 46 48 41 44Washington44 50 50 47 44 47

Price for 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 Average90 point wineCalifornia $64 $74 $71 $76 $81 $73France $100 $96 $78 $90 $94 $92Italy $69 $55 $67 $72 $71 $67Oregon $50 $48 $48 $49 $48 $49Washington$42 $41 $44 $43 $43 $43

12

Washington’s Growing Reputation

13washingtonwine.org

For those consumers trading down from Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon priced from $50-$100:

Washington State

14

Washington’s 13 AVAs

15washingtonwine.org

Yakima Valley

16

Walla Walla Valley

Spring Valley Vineyard

Columbia Valley

Sagemoor Vineyard

Red Mountain

Horse Heaven Hills

The Benches Vineyard

Snipes Mountain

Columbia Gorge

Celilo Vineyard

Puget Sound

23

Washington State Primer

24

• Geography

• Geology

• Viticulture

Northerly Latitude

25

Rain Shadow Effect

26

240”

35-40” 15’ Snow 6-10”

Rain Shadow Effect

27

Average Annual Rainfall

• Napa Valley: 25” - 35”• Bordeaux: 20” - 30”• Columbia Valley: 6” – 10”

Heat Accumulation

28

Average Growing Degree Days

Rapid Cooling

29

Mean Temperature by Month

Diurnal Shift

30

Warm Day Time Temps

+Chilly Night Time

Temps=

Mature phenolics and balanced acidity

Washington State Primer

31

Geography

• Geology

• Viticulture

Geology of the Northwest

32

What makes the Northwest such a special and unique place to grow grapes?

•Volcanos•Floods•Winds

Active Volcanic Area

33

Basalt Foundation

34

Columbia Valley area lava seam caused one of the fastest lava flows earth has seen (30 million years ago)

…sheer weight created the valley!

Cascade Range volcanoes contributed

Subsoil strata: Basalt

Missoula Floods

35

Missoula Floods

36

Missoula Floods

37

Persistent Wind

38

Effects:

• Decreases shoot growth, producing smaller canopies

• Reduces berry size• Reduces disease pressures• Reduces photosynthesis, which may prolong

harvests

Washington State Primer

39

Geography

Geology

• Viticulture

Pests & Disease in Washington

40

• Soil types are not conducive for pests

• Winter Freeze kills many pests

• Arid temps and wind help control development of fungal diseases (less need for spray)

• Allows for planting on natural rootstock!

Ample Water Supply

41

Columbia River

•Fourth-largest river by volume in the US,largest flowing into the Pacific Ocean•Drainage basin of the Columbia and its tributaries is roughly the size of France, covering seven US states

Washington State Primer

42

Geography• Northerly Latitude = More Sunlight• Rain Shadow = Dry Climate

Geology• Volcanos + Floods = Diverse Soils• Columbia River Basin = Ample Water Supply

Viticulture• Unique Soils = Distinctive Character• Own-Rooted Vines = Varietal Correctness

Thank You!

washingtonwine.org