Washington
Washington state is located in the Pacific Northwest and is bordered to the south by Oregon. Despite its recent winemaking history, it is the second most productive state in the United States, after California. Almost all the wine produced comes from the easternmost part, characterized by a hot desert climate but there is some cultivation also in the colder and humid west part. Among the predominant red grape varieties we find Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah, while among the white grape varieties, Chardonnay and Riesling stand out in absolute terms. However the region produces quality wine from 70 different grape varieties. The Cascades Range defines the geography of the region by acting as a barrier to precipitation. Without irrigation water drawn from local waterways, Columbia, Walla Walla, Yakima and Snake, viticulture would not be possible. The rivers also mitigate summer and winter temperatures. The soils of alluvial origin are composed of gravel and sand which are suitable soils for viticulture but also a protection against phylloxera aphid: for this reason most of the region's vines are ungrafted. The latitude of Washington, 46 ° N, with days with even 17 hours of light, even more than California, and the favorable temperature variations allow to obtain vines capable of reaching full maturity while retaining a fundamental acidity.