| Red Mountain | |
| Type: | American Viticultural Area |
| Year: | 2001)[1] |
| Country: | United States |
| Part Of: | Columbia Valley AVA, Washington, Yakima Valley AVA |
| Similar: | Candy Mountain AVA, Goose Gap AVA, Rattlesnake Hills AVA, Snipes Mountain AVA |
| Season: | 180 days |
| Climate Region: | Continental |
| Precipitation: | 5inches |
| Soil: | Warden & Scooteney silt loam, Hezel loamy fine sand and Kiona very stony silt loam |
| Total Size: | 4040acres |
| Varietals: | Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Counoise, Gewurztraminer, Lemberger, Malbec, Merlot, Mourvedre, Nebbiolo, Petit Verdot, Pinot gris, Riesling, Roussanne, Sauvignon blanc, Semillon, Syrah, Viognier[2] |
| Wineries: | more than 15 |
Red Mountain is an American Viticultural Area (AVA) that encompasses the local region surrounding Red Mountain in Benton County, Washington. The viticultural area was formally recognized on June 11, 2001 by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), Treasury after reviewing the petition submitted by Lorne Jacobson of Hedges Cellars to establish an area known as "Red Mountain." It lies entirely within the Yakima Valley and vast Columbia Valley appellations and is the smallest AVA in the state at only 4040acres in area and lies between Benton City and the City of West Richland. The area has more than under cultivation of primarily red varietals including Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Sangiovese, Cabernet Franc and Syrah.[3] The reputation of the area's wines has brought Red Mountain worldwide attention and acclaim for producing some of the most desired Washington State vintage wines.[2] [4]
The Missoula floods, a series of massive floods that occurred at the end of the last Ice Age, profoundly affected the soils of Red Mountain. The fast traveling flood waters, estimated at 3900NaN0 tall, would sweep around the east and west edges of Red Mountain, creating powerfully back-eddies. As a result of the back-eddies, sediments were deposited in an irregular manner, creating a heterogeneous soil with a series of gravel lenses.[5] In the 10,000 years since the Missoula floods, wind-blown loess was deposited, creating a thin mantle of dunes that vary in thickness throughout the Red Mountain region. This has created a series of soils that differ from those of the immediately surrounding area.[1]
The topography to the northeast features part of the Columbia Basin lowlands where the Columbia River turns southward towards the Saddle Mountains. With elevations ranging from 500to(-), the landscape dominates this area of the lower Yakima Valley. Red Mountain derives its name from the red-wine springtime bloom of the drooping brome or "cheatgrass" on its slopes. The soil in the area is very gravelly, with high alkalinity (high pH) and calcium carbonate content.[1]
The area has one of the most unusual terroirs in the state with the southwest facing slopes documenting warmer temperatures and more sunlight hours than any other part of the Columbia Valley. The nighttime temperatures drop considerably, helping to preserve the acid levels within the grape.[6] At Benton City, the Yakima River flows past the area and provides a moderating effect on the temperature. Cool air from the northern elevations flowing to the lower river valley moves across the hillside vineyards and keeps the grapes from being overheated. This constant air movement prevents air settling and frost damage to the grapes[7] The area has a desert climate with average annual rainfall of 5inches. During the growing season, daytime temperatures average 90°F with nighttime temperatures dropping below 50°F.[8] Vineyards rely on irrigation to supply water to the vines allowing viniters to optimize the growth cycle of their grapevines.
In the 1970s, John Williams of Kiona Vineyards and Jim Holmes, originally of Kiona then Ciel du Cheval vineyards, pioneered grape growing in the area.[9] In the 1980s, wines made from grapes in the Red Mountain area began receiving recognition for their distinct flavor profiles though federal laws permitted wine labels only to carry the designation as being from the Columbia Valley AVA or Yakima Valley AVA. In the late 1990s, Lorne Jacobson from Hedges Family Estates started a drive to achieve federal recognition of the area as its own AVA, which was granted in April, 2001.[6] Hedges Family Estates' appellation petition was joined by Kiona Vineyards, Blackwood Canyon Vintners, Sandhill Winery, Seth Ryan Winery and Terra Blanca Winery.[8] In 2007, Chateau Ste Michelle and Marchesi Antinori invested 6.5 million dollars in the appellation to purchase vineyards and establish a winery to produce their joint venture wine, Col Solare.[9] In 2013, Aquilini Vineyards purchased 670 acres on Red Mountain.
The area is known for producing powerful, tannic red wines. The wines are known for their balance in flavors, with an intense concentration of berry flavors.[6] Compared to the Cabernet Sauvignon produced in other areas of the state, the Cabernets here are more structured than fruit-driven.[9] Grapes from this area are in high demand and vineyards with notable reputations can receive as much as 30% above market price for their crops.[7] The primary Cabernet Sauvignon clone planted is clone #8, which in Red Mountain produces a Cabernet wine similar in profile to a California wine, while the same clone planted in nearby Horse Heaven Hills AVA produces a wine similar in profile to Bordeaux.[10]
Many of Washington's cult wines are produced from Cabernet Sauvignon grapes grown in this AVA including the 2002, 2003 and 2005 Quilceda Creek Vintners Cabernet Sauvignon, which scored the rare 100 point wine rating from Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate.[6] At the time, only 15 other wines in the US had received this designation, all made from California grapes.[11] Only five other previous vintages have received consecutive perfect scores in The Wine Advocates publishing history.[12] The Quilceda Creek wines were blends from three Red Mountain vineyards, Ciel du Cheval, Klipsun, and Tapteil, and one vineyard in adjoining Horse Heaven Hills viticultural area.
In the early 21st century, the reputation of Red Mountain AVA has bolstered an era of growth for the appellation. Like most wine growing regions in Eastern Washington, Red Mountain is in the rain shadow of the Cascade Range making irrigation essential with water rights controlled by the state's Department of Ecology. In the past, this limited commercial growth and the opening of new wineries in the area though restrictions may be reduced in the future. In anticipation of future growth, a committee of local grape growers was formed to promote the development of the area's roads and infrastructure.[9]