Washington's Red Mountain AVA
At Long Shadows, we source fruit from some of the best vineyard sites in Washington. A number of those vineyards are found in Red Mountain AVA.
This AVA is part of the larger Yakima Valley AVA, which is part of the larger Columbia Valley AVA. It is located between a bend in the Yakima River in south central Washington, about 75 miles ENE of Walla Walla.
Red Mountain is neither red, nor a mountain, but the area does take on a reddish hue in springtime as the cheatgrass changes color. It's a very small, very warm region.
— Washington Wine Commission
In 1975, the first vineyard on Red Mountain was planted mainly as an experiment. The following harvests proved that the land had something special to offer.
Formed by the Missoula floods over 10,000 years ago, this great geologic event scraped hills and reformed the land, depositing mineral rich soils throughout Washington and Oregon.
The terroir of Red Mountain can be attributed to a number of factors. The high alkalinity and calcium rich soil encourage the vines to go deep for resources, establishing a robust root system that generates character and nuance. Other factors like perfect slope and sun exposure, a long and dry growing season, and warming winds in the summer and cooling winds in the fall all contribute to concentrated berries and depth of flavor.
The fruit from the Red Mountain AVA provide backbone, dark fruit flavors, and incredible intensity of color.
We source fruit from four vineyards in Red Mountain AVA
- Heart of the Hill
- Red Mountain Vineyard
- Red Heaven
- Tapteil
In 2020, we made three wines from these gorgeous vineyards.
Red Mountain AVA Stats:
- Size: 4,040 acres
- Elevation: From 540 feet to 1,400 feet
- Estimated plantable acreage: 2,700 acres
- First planted: 1975
- Soils: Predominate soils are Warden, Hezel, and Scooteney
- Slope: Classic southwest slope, 0-15%
- First agricultural product: Vitis Vinifera
- Root stock: Own-rooted, small amounts grafted
- Irrigation: Mostly drip via deep wells and the Yakima River
- Average yield: 3.2 tons per acre
- Region: Similar to region IV with approximately 3,200 degree days but with significantly higher total acids than are typically found in this warm a region.
- Sunlight: 2 hours more per day during the growing season than Napa Valley
- Annual rainfall: Five to six inches
- Major varietals grown: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Petit Verdot
Sources:
https://redmountainava.com/the...
https://www.washingtonwine.org...