Naches Heights has been declared Washington State’s newest and 12th American Viticultural Area (AVA) by the federal government today.
As shown here, the “Naches Heights” name applies to an elevated plateau area in Yakima County, Washington. (Photo: ©Tasting Room Magazine)
Located to the west of Yakima, Wash., and falling entirely within the greater Columbia Valley wine growing region, Naches Heights is 13,254-acres in total size, with slightly more than 105 acres currently planted with vineyards.
The establishment of the Naches Heights AVA will become fully effective on January 13, 2012. In order to carry the Naches Heights designation on wine labels, at least 85% of the grapes used to make a wine must be grown in the designated area.
One of the unique distinctions of Naches Heights is that all of the vineyards in the new AVA are certified biodynamic, organic or sustainable, according to Paul Beveridge, owner of Wilridge Winery & Vineyard. Beveridge, along with Phil Cline, owner of Naches Heights Vineyard, have been driving forces behind the petition for the AVA. Whether or not this distinguishing quality will hold true for the AVA’s future as more growers are attracted to the area, this is the first time this has occurred in Washington, if not the United States.
Phil Cline was the first person to plant vines on Naches Heights. He says, “We are pleased that the federal government agrees that Naches Heights is a distinctive place to grow wine grapes. We are also pleased that all of the vine growers on Naches Heights are committed to sustainable viticulture.”
Paul Beveridge commented on the difference between the Naches Heights terroir and the surrounding Columbia Valley: “We have been farming on Naches Heights for five years and producing wine from Naches Heights grapes for the past two years. While the large Columbia Valley AVA is characterized by river valleys and was shaped by the ancient Missoula floods, Naches Heights is located above the valleys on a one million year old Andesite lava flow from the Cascade Mountains that was never inundated by the historic floods. The Andesite is unique to Naches Heights in Washington State and we think it gives a distinctive character to our wines.”
American Viticultural Areas are geographical wine grape growing regions in the United States with distinct soil and climate conditions. Their boundaries are defined by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau, a division of the United States Department of the Treasury, and established at the request of wineries or other petitioners.
Washington State’s American Viticultural Areas (as of 12/14/2011):
1. Yakima Valley (1983)
2. Walla Walla (1984)
3. Columbia Valley (1984)
4. Puget Sound (1995)
5. Red Mountain (2001)
6. Columbia Gorge (2004)
7. Horse Heaven Hills (2005)
8. Wahluke Slope (2006)
9. Rattlesnake Hills (2006)
10. Snipes Mountain (2009)
11. Lake Chelan (2009)
12. Naches Heights (2012)