HORSE
HEAVEN HILLS - WASHINGTON'S NEWEST AVA
 A
570,000 acre region of wine-grape growing
land in south-central Washington has become
the state's seventh federally recognized
American Viticultural Area (or AVA). The
south-sloping tract of land known as Horse
Heaven Hills, located 115 miles east of
Vancouver, WA, along the Columbia River
in portions of Klickitat, Yakima and Benton
counties, was recognized as a distinctive
area suited for growing wine grapes on Aug.
1, 2005.
As legend has it, the name Horse Heaven
Hills was coined by a cowboy by the name
of James Kinney, whose heard of horses wandered
off up a hillside and were found on an upland
plain munching on succulent bunch grass.
"This has to be horse heaven,"
Kinney declared.
This beautifully hilly area was chosen because
of its distinctive typography, temperatures
and wind conditions. Horse Heaven Hills
joins the Columbia Valley, Columbia Gorge,
Puget Sound, Red Mountain, Walla Walla Valley
and Yakima Valley as areas recognized for
their individual abilities to grow unique
wine grapes.
AVA designations attempt to distinguish
the type of grapes that produce wine in
different regions. This is somewhat like
the European model, where the most important
aspect of a wine is where it’s from.
One of the most important factors making
grapes grown at the Horse Heaven Hills area
unique is the high winds, funneled through
the Columbia Gorge. The area has about 30
percent more wind than other Columbia Valley
regions, and this keeps the temperatures
moderate and grape vines dry, lowering the
risk of vineyard disease and pests.
There are currently more than 6,000 acres
of wine grapes planted in the Horse Heaven
Hills, and estimates predict that nearly
70% of the total region has the potential
to produce high quality grapes. This means
that nearly 400,000 acres of grapes, or
664,000,000 cases of high quality wine,
could be produced. The predominant varieties
of grapes in the region include cabernet
sauvignon, merlot, syrah, chardonnay, riesling,
semillon and sauvignon blanc with approximately
thirteen other varieties planted.
Horse Heaven Hills is home to only four
wineries, but with its recent AVA distinction
and growth potential there are assured to
be many more. Currently the area contains
20 vineyards, which produce grapes for some
of the top wineries in the state, including
Andrew Will Winery, Betz Family Winery,
Chateau Ste. Michelle, Quilceda Creek and
Woodward Canyon, among many others.
Quick Facts:
A wine must contain at least 85 percent
of its grapes from Horse Heaven Hills to
use the name on their label.
Horse Heaven Sub Appellations
(growing sites):
Canoe Ridge
Alder Ridge
Zephyr Ridge
Well Known Horse Heaven Vineyards:
Champoux Vineyard
Destiny Ridge Vineyard
Andrew Vineyard
Wineries using Horse Heaven grapes:
Alexandria Nicole Cellars
Andrew Will
Betz Family Winery
Washington wineries of Ste Michelle Wine
Estates (Col Solare, Columbia Crest, Chateau
Ste Michelle, Northstar, and Januik Winery)
L'Ecole No 41
Owen-Sullivan Winery
Soos Creek, Three Rivers
Quilceda Creek Vintners
Woodward Canyon
And many more...
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