Washington state is the second wine-producer of the United States after California. Its climate is sympathetic to the production of world-class wines from European grape varieties and in fact Washington produces a much higher percentage of its total volume as high quality wines.
Even though wine production started in Washington with the arrival of the first Europeans in the early 1800s, this industry started to develops just from the early 1960s. Therefore, the real growth of Washington State as a wine-producer is very recent. The total acreage planted to wine grapes increased from 11,100 acres (4,492 hectares) in 1993 to 30,000 acres (12,140 hectares) in 2004. In the same year there were more than 320 wineries while in 1981 the total number was just 19.
The growing rate of the wine industry in Washington is terrific. Averagelly the wine-grapes acreage double every five years and one winery every six weeks is added to the list. This state has perfect conditions for grape-growing. In fact,also if Washington climate is often related with the rainy and temperate climate of its biggest city Seattle, eastern Washington is very dry and hot. The Cascades Mountains run north to south and divide Washington in two separate climatic areas. The western part receives lots of moisture from the Pacific Ocean, but some areas of the eatern part receive something close to five inches of rain every year. In fact, moving further into the State it is even possible to
find the desert. Therefore, grape growing in eastern Washington is possible because of three important rivers wich provide all the water necessary. The hot weather together with good water for irrigation are the perfect conditions for grape-growing. The rivers names are Columbia, Yakima and Snake.

In Washington today there are nine federally recognized American Viticultural Areas:

1)  Yakima Valley               Recognized in 1983
2)  Columbia Valley            Recognized in 1984
3)  Walla Walla Valley       Recognized in 1984
4)  Puget Sound                  Recognized in 1995
5)  Red Mountain               Recognized in 2001
6)  Columbia Gorge            Recognized in 2004
7)  Horse Heaven Hills      Recognized in 2005
8)  Wahluke Slope              Recognized in 2006
9)  Rattlesnake Hills          Recognized in 2006

In Washington more than 20 grape varieties are cultivated. The leading red varietals are: Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah,Cabernet Franc and Sangiovese. For white grapes the most important varietals are: Chardonnay, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon and Viognier.
The wine future in Washington, because of the quality of the production together with all the right climatic conditions,is limitless.In fact new acreage and wine varietals are being planted constantly and new skilled producers are increasing the already very good wine offer of this state.