The Columbia Valley AVA is Washington's largest wine-growing appellation — a vast semi-arid basin encompassing virtually all of Eastern Washington's premium wine-growing land. Within it sit some of the most celebrated and distinctive sub-appellations in American wine: Horse Heaven Hills, Wahluke Slope, Rattlesnake Hills, Red Mountain, and several others. The Tri-Cities area (Richland, Kennewick, Pasco) serves as the region's commercial center and the base for exploring the Columbia Valley wine world.
Horse Heaven Hills, on the wind-swept plateau above the Columbia River's Hanford Reach, produces Cabernet Sauvignon of extraordinary concentration and precision. The consistent Yakima Valley and Columbia River wind eliminates fungal pressure, concentrates flavors, and thickens grape skins — producing wines of unusual structural intensity. Chateau Ste. Michelle's Horse Heaven Vineyard and Quilceda Creek's fruit sources here are among Washington's most celebrated addresses.
The Tri-Cities wine scene clusters along the riverfront areas of Richland and Kennewick, with tasting rooms from regional producers and urban satellite rooms from estate wineries throughout Eastern Washington. Barnard Griffin, one of the most established Richland producers, and Badger Mountain Organic Winery represent the range of approaches within this diverse regional zone.
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