Washington Wine Growers Continue to Produce New Varietals

Grape growers throughout Washington State continue to branch out by producing more and different wine-producing varietals. This is great news for local consumers because it means we have more choices in terms of wine styles, tastes, flavors, and prices.

The Washington Wine Commission reports that the number of white wine varietals grown in the state exceeds red wine varietals by a 56 to 44 percent ratio. And yet, of the roughly 30,000 acres currently used for wine production, 55 percent is dedicated to red wine grapes. These figures reflect the choices of most wine drinkers, which initially seem to favor sweeter whites and then gradually move to drier whites and reds as their taste preferences broaden and mature.

Chardonnay and riesling continue to dominate white wine production, with sauvignon blanc, gewürztraminer, and semillon available in much smaller quantities. The Puget Sound appellation is also home to a number of lesser-known white varietals that have interesting and unique flavor characteristics that make them worth trying.

Grapes such as madeline angevine, siegerrebe, and muller thurgau are just a few of the varietals that flourish in cooler climates, and I think that several regional wineries – Mount Baker Vineyards, San Juan Vineyards, Lopez Island Vineyards and Whidbey Island Vineyards, to name a few – do an outstanding job of producing them.

On the red wine side, cabernet sauvignon and merlot easily outpace other varietals by accounting for nearly 70 percent of the state’s red grape vineyards. But watch for grapes such as malbec, zinfandel and sangiovese, which continue to be planted in greater numbers as they increasingly gain favor among area wine drinkers.

I know it’s easy to fall into a rut by drinking a favorite type of wine or even buying a particular label over and over again. But in a sense, you play a role in the wine that shows up on the grocery shelf because demand influences what winemakers produce. My advice: venture outside your usual routine by trying one of the growing number of wines Washington has to offer. I think you’ll be in for a pleasant surprise.