Columbia Gorge AVA

The Columbia Gorge AVA is an American Viticultural Area which includes land surrounding the Columbia River Gorge, straddling the border between Oregon and Washington. Due to the significant gradations of climate and geography found in the gorge, this AVA exhibits a wide range of terroir in a relatively small region; it is marketed as a "world of wine in 40 miles".[4]

Columbia Gorge AVA
Wine region
TypeAmerican Viticultural Area
Year established2004[1]
CountryUnited States
Part ofOregon, Washington
Climate regionMaritime/continental
Total area280 square miles (725 km2)[2]
Size of planted vineyards350 acres (140 ha)[3]
No. of vineyards24[2]
Grapes producedBarbera, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Chenin blanc, Gewurztraminer, Lemberger, Merlot, Pinot blanc, Pinot gris, Pinot noir, Sangiovese, Sauvignon blanc, Syrah, Tempranillo, Viognier, Zinfandel[3]
No. of wineries4[2]

Description

The Columbia Gorge AVA consists of four counties; Hood River and Wasco counties in Oregon, and Skamania and Klickitat counties in Washington.[2] The region stretches from Hood River, Oregon and Underwood, Washington in the west, to Rowena, Oregon and Lyle, Washington in the east. It includes the river valleys of the Hood River and Deschutes River in Oregon, and the Klickitat River and White Salmon River in Washington.[3]

The Columbia River (shown here in Hood River County, Oregon) is at the heart of the Columbia Gorge AVA

As this region lies to the east of the summits of nearby Mount Hood and Mount Adams, it is in rain shadow of these Cascade volcanoes. The region is significantly drier than the Portland metropolitan area to the west. Annual precipitation ranges from 36 inches (91 cm) at the western end of the range, to only 10 inches (25 cm) in the eastern part. Elevation in the region varies considerably, increasing as one travels from the Columbia River into the plateaus on either side, and the strong Columbia Gorge winds also play a factor in the region's climate. This allows a wide variety of grapes to be grown in the Columbia Gorge.[5]

The region has nearly 40 vineyards, growing a wide variety of grapes, including Syrah, Pinot noir, Chardonnay, Gewürztraminer, Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot gris, Riesling, and Sangiovese.[4]

References
  1. "§ 9.178 Columbia Gorge" (Title 27: Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms; Part 9 — American Viticultural Areas; Subpart C — Approved American Viticultural Areas). Code of Federal Regulations. Retrieved January 30, 2008.
  2. "Columbia Gorge Viticultural Area (2002R-03P)" (27 CFR 9 69 FR 25831). Federal Register. The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau. May 10, 2004. pp. 25831–25835.
  3. "Columbia Gorge (AVA): Appellation Profile". Appellation America. 2007. Archived from the original on April 28, 2009. Retrieved January 30, 2008.
  4. "Columbia Gorge Vineyards". Columbia Gorge Wine. 2008. Archived from the original on August 10, 2006. Retrieved January 30, 2008.
  5. "Columbia Gorge Wine Country...its Wineries and Wines". Wines Northwest.

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