Horse Heaven Hills AVA

On Monday Aug 1 2005, after the United States Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) gave the Horse Heaven Hills its official status as an American Viticultural Area (AVA) Ted Baseler read out the official proclamation from Governor Gregoire’s office to a crowd of growers and winemakers at Columbia Crest Winery in Patterson. Robin Pollard the new executive director of the Washington Wine Commission was also in attendance for the official proclamation as well as Valoria Loveland the Director of the Washington State Department of Agriculture. Horse Heaven Hills is the newest AVA for Washington and is the first of several proposed AVAs to be approved. Other proposed AVAs that have not yet been approved are the Wahluke Slope, and Rattlesnake Hills.

Horse Heaven Hill Facts

Officially given status on Aug. 1 2005 by TTB

Total Acreage: 570,000 Acres

Acres Planted: 6,040 Acres

Varieties Planted: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, Chardonnay, Riesling, Semillon, and Sauvignon Blanc.

20 Vineyards

Primarily planted on South Facing Slopes

Sandy well drained soil

Very windy (up to 30% more wind than other WA regions)

Average 2800 Annual Heat Units per growing season

Rainfall: 9 inches per year (primarily during dormant season)

Supplemental irrigation is necessary and allows viticulturists better control of vineyard water status.

Named by cowboy James Kinney in 1857 after discovering his herd on a hillside eating the native grasses.

Oldest vineyard planted by Don Mercer in 1972 at Phinny Hill.