Area
The Red Mountain appellation is contained within the Columbia Valley which stretches from Wapato to Milton-Freewater, across the Columbia River into Oregon.
Red Mountain is a premier viticultural area and a welcoming destination for wine tourism. With one of the most densely clustered collections of tasting rooms in Washington State, Red Mountain makes an ideal destination for two to three days of wine tasting.
A list of tasting rooms, restaurants, and other information can be found on the AVA Alliance website link here: https://redmountainava.com/visit. It is advisable to call ahead before planning your visits.
A list of tasting rooms, restaurants, and other information can be found on the AVA Alliance website link here: https://redmountainava.com/visit. It is advisable to call ahead before planning your visits.
The Terroir
The small geographic region that comprises the Red Mountain AVA was formed by the repeated ice-age flooding of Glacial Lake Missoula over 10,000 years ago. The flood waters redesigned the landscape, configuring the soft mountain slopes and soils – as if to anticipate the introduction of wine grapes to the region. While the Red Mountain AVA lies within the southeastern area of the Yakima Valley Appellation's boundaries, it has a distinct microclimate. Wines made from Red Mountain fruit express a unique terroir with exceptional color, strength and richness, while demonstrating remarkable balance of fruit, acidity, and tannin. The Red Mountain Appellation The first Red Mountain winery was bonded in 1980. After that time, more people began to purchase land and plant vineyards, recognizing the superior quality of Red Mountain grapes and the potential for world-class wines. AVA status was achieved in 2001. The Red Mountain AVA now hosts more than 50 vineyards covering more than 2,000 acres, making Red Mountain one of the most densely planted AVAs in Washington state. The name Red Mountain can be misleading for two reasons. First, it does not refer to the color of the mountain’s soil, but rather, some say, to a native grass with a red hue. Secondly, Red Mountain, for those with other mountains in mind, might be a bit of a misnomer, since its elevation ranges from only 500 to 1,500 feet. Even so, among the rolling hills of Eastern Washington’s desert, Red Mountain’s sloping hillside is a prominent landmark. Red Mountain Appellation has it all: slope, exposure, weather conditions, drainage, large swings between day and night temperatures, and gravelly soil with high calcium carbonate content and high pH (high alkalinity). The Yakima River flows nearby, helping moderate climate extremes, as do rivers in many great wine regions throughout the world.
The small geographic region that comprises the Red Mountain AVA was formed by the repeated ice-age flooding of Glacial Lake Missoula over 10,000 years ago. The flood waters redesigned the landscape, configuring the soft mountain slopes and soils – as if to anticipate the introduction of wine grapes to the region. While the Red Mountain AVA lies within the southeastern area of the Yakima Valley Appellation's boundaries, it has a distinct microclimate. Wines made from Red Mountain fruit express a unique terroir with exceptional color, strength and richness, while demonstrating remarkable balance of fruit, acidity, and tannin. The Red Mountain Appellation The first Red Mountain winery was bonded in 1980. After that time, more people began to purchase land and plant vineyards, recognizing the superior quality of Red Mountain grapes and the potential for world-class wines. AVA status was achieved in 2001. The Red Mountain AVA now hosts more than 50 vineyards covering more than 2,000 acres, making Red Mountain one of the most densely planted AVAs in Washington state. The name Red Mountain can be misleading for two reasons. First, it does not refer to the color of the mountain’s soil, but rather, some say, to a native grass with a red hue. Secondly, Red Mountain, for those with other mountains in mind, might be a bit of a misnomer, since its elevation ranges from only 500 to 1,500 feet. Even so, among the rolling hills of Eastern Washington’s desert, Red Mountain’s sloping hillside is a prominent landmark. Red Mountain Appellation has it all: slope, exposure, weather conditions, drainage, large swings between day and night temperatures, and gravelly soil with high calcium carbonate content and high pH (high alkalinity). The Yakima River flows nearby, helping moderate climate extremes, as do rivers in many great wine regions throughout the world.