The Columbia Valley is a large portion of Eastern Washington, encompassing around 18,000 square miles and 11 million acres. It covers almost half of the state of Washington. The Columbia Valley holds seven smaller AVAs: Horse Heaven Hills, Lake Chelan, Rattlesnake Hills, Snipes Mountain, Wahluke Slope, Walla Walla Valley and the Yakima Valley.
The Yakima Valley was Washington’s first officially recognized AVA. Within the Yakima Valley, Rattlesnake Hills and Snipes Mountain there are about 70 wineries. Supplementing the Columbia, Yakima and Snake Rivers are a series of canals and wells to supply growers with an ample amount of water in this dry valley. This availability of water has transformed the Yakima and Columbia Valleys into the largest and most productive wine regions in the Northwest.
The Walla Walla region is the most remote region in Washington State and it extends from Washington into Oregon. The vineyard acreage totaled 1,600 in 2010.
Horse Heaven AVA was recognized in 2005 and includes 570,000 acres on a wedge of land that starts on the 1,800-foot ridges of the Hills and slopes south to the Columbia River. It is home to seven wineries as well as about 24 growers, including the state’s largest vineyard owned by St. Michele Estate Wines.
The tourist rich Lake Chelan AVA is one of Washington’s newest AVA’s and one of the most scenic. Lake Chelan has appealed to tourists, water-sport enthusiasts, skiing and backcountry hikers for many years. It’s home to seventeen wineries with plans for expansion in the near future.