View source for Wahluke Slope AVA

{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2021}}
{{Infobox Wine Region
| name = Wahluke Slope
| image =Wahluke Slope AVA map.JPG
| official name =
| other name = 
| type = [[American Viticultural Area]]
| year = 2006<ref name="Establish">{{cite journal |url=https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2005-12-07/pdf/05-23679.pdf  | title=Establishment of the Wahluke Slope Viticultural Area (2005R–026P) | journal=[[Federal Register]]|publisher=[[Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau|Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB)]], [[United States Department of the Treasury|Treasury]]|format=27 CFR 9 [T.D. TTB–40; Re: Notice No. 46] RIN 1513–AB01 Final Rule | pages=72707–72710 |date=2005-12-07 |volume=70| issue=234 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20230418071950/https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2005-12-07/pdf/05-23679.pdf | archive-date=2023-04-18 |url-status=live}}{{PD-notice}}</ref>
| wine years = 
| country = United States
| part of = [[Washington wine|Washington]], [[Columbia Valley AVA]]
| similar = [[Ancient Lakes of Columbia Valley AVA]], [[Beverly, Washington AVA]], [[Horse Heaven Hills AVA]], [[Naches Heights AVA]]. [[Lake Chelan AVA]], [[The Burn of Columbia Valley AVA]], [[Rocky Reach AVA]],  [[Royal Slope AVA]], [[Walla Walla Valley AVA]], [[White Bluffs AVA]]
| sub regions = 
| season = 212 days<ref name="Almanac.com">{{cite web |title=Frost Dates for Mattawa, WA |url=https://www.almanac.com/gardening/frostdates/zipcode/99349 |website=Almanac.com |publisher=Yankee Publishing Inc. |access-date=21 March 2025}}</ref>
| climate region = Region III<ref name="Establish"/>
| heat units = 3,013 [[growing degree-day|GDD]] units<ref name="Establish"/>
| precipitation = {{cvt|5.9|in|1}}<ref name="Proposed">{{cite journal |url=https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2005-05-19/pdf/05-10009.pdf | title=Proposed Establishment of the Wahluke Slope Viticultural Area (2005R–026P) | journal=[[Federal Register]]|publisher=[[Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau|Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB)]], [[United States Department of the Treasury|Treasury]]|format=27 CFR 9 [Notice No. 46] RIN 1513–AB01 Proposed Rule | pages=28861–28865|date=2005-05-19 |volume=70| issue=96}}{{PD-notice}}</ref>
| soil = 
| total size = {{convert|81000|acre|sqmi}}<ref name="Establish"/> 
| planted = {{convert|5200|acre}}<ref name="Proposed"/>
| vineyards = 20
| grapes = [[Cabernet Franc]], [[Cabernet Sauvignon]], [[Chardonnay]], [[Gewurztraminer]], [[Grenache]], [[Merlot]], [[Mourvedre]], [[Petit Verdot]], [[Sangiovese]], [[Sauvignon blanc]], [[Syrah]], [[Viognier]], [[Zinfandel]]<ref name="Appellation_America">{{cite web|website=Appellation America|date=2007 |url=http://wine.appellationamerica.com/wine-region/Wahluke-Slope.html |title=Wahluke Slope (AVA): Appellation Profile|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303201351/http://wine.appellationamerica.com/wine-region/Wahluke-Slope.html|archive-date=2016-03-03 |access-date=January 30, 2008|url-status=dead}}.</ref>
| varietals =
| wineries =
| wine produced = [[Varietal]], [[Dessert wine]], [[Sparkling wine]], [[Meritage]]
| designation =
| comments = 
}}

'''Wahluke Slope''' is an [[American Viticultural Area|American Viticultural Area (AVA)]] located within [[Grant County, Washington|Grant County]], [[Washington state|Washington]]. It was established on January 6, 2006, by the [[Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau|Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB)]], [[United States Department of the Treasury|Treasury]] after reviewing the petition submitted by the Wahluke Slope Wine Grape Growers Association (WSWGGA), represented by Alan J. Busacca, Ph.D., proposing the establishment of the viticultural area named "Wahluke Slope."<ref name="Petition">{{cite web |title=Petition to Establish an American Viticultural Area - "Wahluke Slope" | url=https://www.ttb.gov/system/files/images/pdfs/petition-to-establish-the-wahluke-slope-ava.pdf| website=TTB.gov| author1=Busacca, Alan J. Ph.D | date=2004-11-04}}{{PD-notice}}</ref>  

Wahluke Slope is approximately {{convert|145|mi|km|0}} southeast of [[Seattle]] and immediately north of the [[Hanford Reservation]] of the [[United States Department of Energy|United States Department of Energy (USDOE)]]. "Wahluke" is a Native American word for "watering place,"  The appellation is within the vast [[Columbia Valley AVA]] and encompasses {{convert|80490|acre|sqmi|0}} with approximately {{convert|8931|acre|ha|0}} under vine which is nearly 15 percent of the state's total wine grape acreage.  It is resident to more than 20 vineyards and at least three wine production facilities.<ref name="Establish"/><ref name=":0">{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonwine.org/resource/wahluke-slope-ava/|title=Wahluke Slope|website=Washington State Wine|access-date=2018-07-08|language=en|df=mdy-all}}</ref> The region cultivates Merlot, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Riesling, Chardonnay and Chenin Blanc, but is primarily known for its [[Merlot]] and [[Cabernet Sauvignon]].<ref name="Parker">{{cite book |author1=Parker, Tom |title=Discovering Washington Wines |publisher=Raconteurs Press |isbn=0-9719258-5-2|url=https://archive.org/details/discoveringwashi0000park/mode/2up |location=Seattle, Wash|date=2002-09-01 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/discoveringwashi0000park/page/32/mode/2up 32-33],[https://archive.org/details/discoveringwashi0000park/page/54/mode/2up 54]}}</ref>

== Geography and climate ==
Wahluke Slope viticultural area is located on the [[Wahluke Slope]] of [[Grant County, Washington]]. It extends from the [[Columbia River]] in the west, the [[Hanford Site]] boundary in the southwest, the north bank of the [[Columbia River]] on the south up to the Wahluke Slope Wildlife Refuge in the east, and along the {{convert|1480|ft|m|adj=on}} elevation of the [[Saddle Mountains]] on the north. Wahluke Slope has one of the driest, warmest climates in the state, allowing nearly complete control of vine vigor and ripening through irrigation.<ref name="Appellation_America"/>

The entire {{convert|81000|acre|sqmi|0}} appellation sits on a large alluvial fan, making the soils notably uniform over a large area. The topsoil is deep, wind-blown sand with a depth, on average, of more than {{convert|5|ft|m|0}}. This provides both ample drainage for vinifera vines and greater uniformity in plant vigor and ripening than seen in other areas of Washington. The major distinguishing feature of the Wahluke Slope is its uniformity in aspect, soil type, and climate. The entire appellation lies on a broad, south-facing slope with a constant, gentle grade of less than 8%. This, along with the proximity to the Columbia River, helps minimize the risk of frost, which can affect other areas of the state.<ref name=":0" />

The highest temperature ever measured in Washington state, as of 2021, was recorded at Wahluke on July 24, 1928, at {{convert|118|°F|°C|1}}. This record was later tied at [[Ice Harbor Dam]] in 1961. The temperature was eventually surpassed on June 29, 2021, when [[Hanford Site|Hanford]] reached {{convert|120|°F|°C|1}}.<ref name=markell>{{citation |last=Markell |first=Joanna |title=Washington officially has a new all-time maximum temperature record: 120 degrees | newspaper=[[Yakima Herald-Republic]] |date=February 10, 2022 |url=https://www.yakimaherald.com/news/local/washington-officially-has-a-new-all-time-maximum-temperature-record-120-degrees/article_2254c6a5-b8cc-5d07-a484-d9c4af2aacaf.html}}</ref>

The area is largely within the [[Mattawa, Washington]] 99349 area code.<ref>{{Cite web |title=ZIP Code Tabulation Area: ZCTA5 99349 |url=https://data.census.gov/profile/ZCTA5_99349?g=860XX00US99349 |access-date=2022-12-21 |website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
[[File:Middle-saddle-mountains-sentinel-gap-looking-northwesterly-P4140091.JPG|thumb|250px|left|Wahluke Slope Vineyards with the [[Sentinel Gap]] in the [[Saddle Mountains]] in late winter.]]

== See also ==
*[[Washington wine]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://www.discoverwashingtonwine.com/wine-regions/wahluke-slope/ Washington Wine]
* [https://www.ttb.gov/AVA/  TTB AVA Map]

{{coord|46.763956|N|119.931063|W|format=dms|region:US-CA_dim:27000|display=title}}
{{Washington State hills and ridges}}

[[Category:American Viticultural Areas of Washington (state)]]
[[Category:Geography of Grant County, Washington]]
[[Category:2006 establishments in Washington (state)]]

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