Gorge Wine Growing Region Gains National Designation - Upd. October 4, 2004

Earlier this year the gorge laid claim to a coveted official title in the wine industry: American Viticultural Area or AVA. This title was granted by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (ATTB) after a long process started by local growers and vintners in 2001.

Map of Columbia Gorge Wine Growers (Click for larger view)

The ATTB established the Columbia Gorge Viticultural Area in portions of Hood River, Wasco, Skamania and Klickitat Counties. The Bureau designates viticultural areas to allow bottlers to better describe the origin of wines.

Wines with at least 85 percent of their grapes grown in the designated area can now be labeled with that region's name instead of the state, such as Washington or Oregon. This is useful in branding the region in marketing efforts.

"It was a challenge bringing together a region that was located in two states," said Kris Goodwillie, president of Columbia Gorge Wine Growers (CGWG) Association.

Kris and her husband Joel own and operate two wineries in Washington, Wind River Cellars near Husum and Bad Seed Cider in Bingen. The two started CGWG to bring together the wine growers in the region. CGWG currently has a membership of twelve wineries and many more growers.

The CGWG held a fund raising event in August to pay for a part-time event coordinator. The Gorge Wine Celebration, held at Cathedral Ridge Winery, exceeded everyone's expectations.

"Over 400 people attended," said Goodwille. "We hadn't really planned on it being an annual event, but it was such a success that we'll do it annually. The festival brought in people from Portland, Seattle and Bend. We'll have to find a larger location next year."

The CGWG will use the proceeds from the festival to hire Kate Dugan as the coordinator. Dugan also works for Mid-Columbia Economic Development part-time. Klickitat County generously provided $5,000 for office rental and equipment.

The region's new designation as an American Viticultural Area will make Dugan's job easier. Mark Warry originally petitioned for the designation on behalf of the CGWG Association. The 280 square mile Columbia Gorge viticultural area straddles the Columbia River for 15 miles, and extends into south-central Washington and north-central Oregon. The area surrounds Hood River, Oregon, and White Salmon, Washington, and is generally bordered by B Z Corner, Washington, on the north; Lyle, Washington, on the east; Parkdale, Oregon, on the south; and Vinzenz Lausmann State Park, Oregon, on the west. The area is just west of the established Columbia Valley viticultural area.

Growers have raised grapes in the Columbia Gorge for over a century. In the 1880s, the Jewitt family, founders of the town of White Salmon, built terraces on a wide south-facing slope on the bluff above Bingen, Washington. They planted American vines that they had brought with them from Illinois.

John Balfour, the youngest son of English Lord Balfour, planted grape vines in the early 1900s near the current location of Lyle, Washington. Leonis and Elizah Meress brought grape cuttings to the area from their native Adele Nord, a village in one of France's coldest regions. Some of the vinifera vines they planted are still alive and have withstood temperatures well below zero.

The primary grape varieties grown in the Columbia Gorge are Chardonnay, Gewürztraminer, Riesling and Pinot Gris. Some Lemberger, Merlot and Zinfandel are also planted. In general, the whiter grapes grow better on the west side and the the deeper reds grow better to the east.

"The Celilo Vineyard is celebrating it's 30th anniversary. They grow some the best Chardonnay and Gewurztrainer in the country," said Goodwillie.

"Our slogan is 'The Wines of the World in a Forty Mile Stretch'," added Goodwillie. "What's best about our region is that you can grow almost anything here. It's such a beautiful region a well - there's so much to do and so much to see here."

"It's also less commercialized. As you tour the local wineries, in 9 out of 10 of them you'll be able to speak with the owners or growers, not an employee that may not know much about the wine."

Upcoming events include a post-Thanksgiving 3-day open house, when most of the wineries (November 26 - 28) will be open all three days. Valentine's Day weekend is a popular wine touring period as well.

For more information about the Columbia Gorge Wine Growers Association, contact Kate Dugan at 866-413-WINE (9463) or visit www.columbiagorgewine.com.

Home

Home

Back to Archive Directory