Rattlesnake Hills AVA

The Rattlesnake Hills AVA is an American Viticultural Area located in Yakima County, Washington. United States Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) awarded Rattlesnake Hills its appellation status on March 20, 2006, making Rattlesnake Hills Washington's ninth federally recognized American Viticultural Area. The Rattlesnake Hills AVA is entirely contained within the Yakima Valley AVA, which is in turn is entirely contained within the larger Columbia Valley AVA. The hills form the northern boundary of Yakima Valley, and the AVA includes land between the north bank of the Sunnyside Canal and the entirety of the southern slopes of the Rattlesnake Hills between Outlook and the Wapato Dam. The AVA is centered on the city of Zillah. With elevations ranging from 850 feet (259 m) to 3,085 feet (940 m), this AVA contains the highest point in the Yakima Valley AVA.[5]

Rattlesnake Hills AVA
Wine region
TypeAmerican Viticultural Area
Year established2006[1]
Years of wine industrysince 1968
CountryUnited States
Part ofColumbia Valley AVA, Washington, Yakima Valley AVA
Other regions in Columbia Valley AVA, Washington, Yakima Valley AVARed Mountain AVA, Snipes Mountain AVA
Climate regionRegion II
Heat units2600 - 3000
Precipitation (annual average)7 inches (18 cm)
Soil conditionssilt loam
Total area68,500 acres (27,721 ha)[2]
Size of planted vineyards1,500 acres (607 ha)[3]
No. of vineyards29[3]
Grapes producedCabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Chenin blanc, Gewurztraminer, Grenache, Malbec, Merlot, Mourvèdre, Muscat Canelli, Petite Sirah, Riesling, Semillon, Viognier[4][3]
No. of wineries17[3]
Wine producedVarietal, Dessert wine, Meritage

Vineyards
Pinot Noir grapes in May in the Rattlesnake Hills AVA. The Rattlesnake Hills lie in the background.

Vineyards in Rattlesnake Hills AVA include the Morrison Vineyard, planted in 1968 to Riesling and Cabernet Sauvignon for Chateau Ste. Michelle. It is the oldest vineyard in the AVA. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, the Hyatt Vineyard, Whisky Canyon, Outlook, and the Portteus Vineyard were also planted.[6]

Opposition to AVA

When an AVA designation for the Rattlesnake Hills was proposed it created controversy among some Washington winemakers and vineyard growers.[7] One of its most notable opponents was grower Dick Boushey of Boushey Vineyards in the Rattlesnake Hills (but not within the boundaries of the AVA). Boushey argued that the area did not have distinctive terroir that would merit an AVA stating "I know of no regional style, specific variety or type of wine that is unique to this proposed area. The granting of this proposal would confuse consumers and undermine the existing Yakima Valley Appellation."[3]

A red wine made from grapes grown in the Rattlesnake Hills AVA.







See also

References
  1. "§9.193 Rattlesnake Hills" (Title 27: Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms; Part 9 — American Viticultural Areas; Subpart C — Approved American Viticultural Areas). Code of Federal Regulations. Retrieved January 30, 2008.
  2. "Establishment of the Rattlesnake Hills Viticultural Area". Federal Register. Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau. 71 FR 8206 ((2004R-678P)): 8206–8211. February 16, 2006.
  3. Goldberg, Howard G. (March 1, 2006). "New AVA for Washington" (Wine News). Decanter Magazine.
  4. "Rattlesnake Hills (AVA): Appellation Profile". Appellation America. 2007. Archived from the original on October 21, 2015. Retrieved January 30, 2008.
  5. "About the AVA". Rattlesnake Hills Wine Trail. Yakima Valley. January 7, 2014. Archived from the original on July 14, 2014.
  6. Gregutt, Paul (September 24, 2008). "High expectations for Rattlesnake Hills, Washington's newest AVA" (Food & Drink/Lifestyle). The Seattle Times.
  7. Dininny, Shannon (February 22, 2006). "New wine grape-growing region recognized". The Seattle Times.

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