Washington Other Notable Regions

Key Subregion Walla Walla Valley Spain

Climate Winkler II Catalonia, Castilla - La Mancha
Mean Temperature Daily maximum: 59° F (July)
Warmest Month Chile
Daily minimum: 354° F (July)
Central Valley Regions of:
Mean Temperature Daily maximum: 91° F (February) Maipo Valley, Maule Valley,
Coolest month Daily minimum: 65° F (February) Colchagua Valley
Rainfall 7 inches. Vines Require irrigation
Australia
Elevation 1,411 to 6,562 ft Barossa Valley and McLaren Vale
Soil Most soils in the Columbia Valley are clay poor due to the limited
amount of rainfall. Exceptions can be found in Walla Walla Valley, New Zealand
which receives a substantially higher amount of annual precipitation Hawke’s Bay
than the rest of the Columbia Valley due to the area’s proximity to the
Blue Mountains. A number of winemakers have stated they believe Resources and Additional Reading
this is one of the reasons Walla Walla Valley creates such high quality
Merlot. 1. J-M. Boursiquot; T. Lacombe; V.
Laucou; S. Julliard; F-X. Perrin; N.
Characteristics "The signature of Washington Merlot is that there is considerably Lanier; D. Legrand; C. Meredith; P. This
more tannin structure than is found elsewhere in the world. Unlike in (2009). "Parentage of Merlot and related
other regions across the world where winemakers blend in Merlot to winegrape cultivars of southwestern
soften Cabernet Sauvignon, in Washington, the opposite is often true. France: discovery of the missing link".
Australian Journal of Grape and Wine
In fact, people who try Washington Merlots blind often think it is Research.
Cabernet Sauvignon because the wines have so much structure. How-
ever, the wines still do have great varietal typicity in terms of the fruit 2. J. Robinson, J. Harding and J.
profile, showing aromas and flavors of red fruit, typically raspberry Vouillamoz Wine Grapes - A complete
and perhaps red cherry, along with a signature cocoa or chocolate guide to 1,368 vine varieties, including
note. These wines also lack Washington Cabernet’s dried herb notes, their origins and flavours pgs 630-634,
which can be another way to distinguish them given that both bring Allen Lane 2012 ISBN 978-1-846-14446-2
substantial amounts of tannin.
3. Sweet, Nancy. The Black Grapes of
Beyond tannin structure, comparing Washington Merlots specifically Bordeaux, Regents of the University
to Napa Valley, Washington is less ripe in style, with more acid struc- of California, July 2018, fps.
ture due to the state’s large diurnal shift." - Washington State Wine ucdavis.edu/grapebook/winebook.
Commission cfm?chap=Bordeaux.
Appellation Insight Washington State Wine Commission
Provided by: washingtonwine.org 4. K. Anderson, S. Nelgen. Which
Winegrape Varieties are Grown Where?
Pg. 93.

5. Wine and Spirit Education Trust.

Understanding wines: Explaining style
and quality. 2016 Edition
Photo Credit: washingtonwine.org

HAWAIIBEVGUIDE.COM HAWAII BEVERAGE GUIDE'S 2021 GUIDE TO WINE 175