History

Washington’s first grapes were planted at Fort Vancouver by the Hudson’s Bay Company using seeds brought from England.

Hybrid varieties arrived in nurseries in the Puget Sound region.

Wine grape vines first planted in the Walla Walla Valley.

William B. Bridgman arrives in Sunnyside and promotes irrigation. Large-scale irrigation, fueled by runoff from the melting snowcaps of the Cascade Mountains, unlocks the dormant potential of the land and its sunny, arid climate.

The first annual Columbia River Valley Grape Carnival was held in Kennewick.

William B. Bridgman plants varieties at Harrison Hill in Sunnyside, Washington.

Bridgman first plants grapes on Snipes Mountain. Until, recently, 1917 plantings of Muscat of Alexandria vines were still in production.

The arrival of Prohibition stalls wine grape production.

Washington becomes the 24th state to repeal Prohibition.

National Wine Company (NAWICO) and Pomerelle Wine Company are founded. Washington State Liquor Act passes, forming the Liquor Control Board.

Washington Wine Producers Association is founded.

42 wineries were located throughout the state, mostly dedicated to fruit and fortified wines.

Dr. Walter J. Clore becomes assistant horticulturist at the Irrigation Branch Experiment Station (now known as the Irrigated Agriculture Research and Extension Center) in Prosser.

Cabernet Sauvignon is first planted in Washington.

24 wineries are located in Washington.

American Wine Growers is founded in a merger of National Wine Company and Pomerelle Wine Company and market Grenache Rosé under the Granada brand name.

Cabernet Sauvignon vines are planted at Otis Vineyard in Yakima Valley. They are currently the oldest Cabernet vines in the state and some of the oldest in the country.

Dr. Walter Clore begins wine grape field research at Washington State University’s Irrigated Experiment Station.

First Riesling planted in Washington.

Associated Vintners is incorporated by a group of 10 friends, six of whom are University of Washington professors that began making non-commercial wine in 1958. The winery is subsequently rebranded Columbia Winery in 1983.

Associated Vintners plants Harrison Hill Vineyard in Yakima Valley.

First Chardonnay planted in Washington.

First Merlot planted in Washington.

American Wine Growers launches Ste. Michelle Vintners dedicated to varietal wines, producing a Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Semillon, and Grenache. Famed winemaker Andre Tchelistcheff is retained as a consultant.

California Wine Bill passes, eliminating trade barriers and restrictions and allowing out- of-state wineries to sell in state.

The earliest plantings go in at Sagemoor, Cold Creek, Celilo, and Mercer Ranch vineyards, with the latter subsequently renamed Champoux Vineyard in 1996.

The first vines are planted at Red Willow Vineyard in Yakima Valley.

By this year, Dr. Walter Clore had had overseen the plantings of 312 grape varieties at the research station.

Leonetti Cellar plants first Cabernet Sauvignon in Walla Walla Valley.

Los Angeles Times holds blind tasting of 19 White Rieslings. Ste. Michelle’s 1972 Riesling ranks first, pushing the winery into the national spotlight.

First vineyard planted on Red Mountain.

Ste Michelle Vineyards opens in Woodinville and rebrands as Chateau Ste Michelle.

Chateau Ste Michelle makes first vineyard designated Cabernet Sauvignon.

Earliest plantings at Seven Hills Vineyard planted in Walla Walla Valley, 21 acres of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon.

Boushey Vineyard is planted in Yakima Valley, including Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Chenin Blanc.

Washington has 19 wineries.

German winery Franz Langguth opens in Mattawa, Washington, dedicating itself to Riesling. This marks the first foreign investment in Washington, though it only lasts until 1987.

Yakima Valley is established as Washington’s first federally approved American Viticultural Area (AVA).

Leonetti Cellar’s inaugural 1978 Cabernet Sauvignon is named best in the country by Wine State Wine & Spirits Buying Guide.

Washington becomes the second largest producer of premium wines in the United States.

Walla Walla Valley is established as a federally approved American Viticultural Area (AVA).

Columbia Valley is established as a federally approved American Viticultural Area (AVA).

First Syrah in the state is planted at Red Willow Vineyard in Yakima Valley.

Washington State Wine Commission is formed as a unified marketing and trade association.

Chateau Ste. Michelle and famed Italian winemaker Marchese Piero Antinori release the first vintage of Col Solare, marking a major international partnership.

Puget Sound is established as a federally approved American Viticultural Area (AVA).

Cayuse Vineyards plants first modern day vineyard in what would become known as the Rocks District of Milton-Freewater in Walla Walla Valley.

Taste Washington takes place in Seattle for the first time, later becoming the largest single-region food and wine festival in the country.

Chateau Ste Michelle partners with Germany’s renowned Dr. Loosen winemaker, Ernst Loosen, to produce the first vintage of Eroica Riesling.

The ‘Big Bang’ of the industry, as the number of producers and grape acreage increases dramatically.

Washington State Legislature passes a resolution to officially recognizing Walter Clore as the ‘Father of the Washington Wine Industry’.

Red Mountain is established as a federally approved American Viticultural Area (AVA).

Washington Wine Institute and educational partners celebrate state’s $2.3 million investment (per biennium) to create new 2-year and 4-year degree programs supporting Washington’s growing wine industry.

Columbia Gorge is established as a federally approved American Viticultural Area (AVA).

A Washington wine receives its first 100-point score, the 2002 Quilceda Creek Cabernet Sauvignon from Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate.

Horse Heaven Hills is established as a federally approved American Viticultural Area (AVA).

Horse Heaven Hills is established as a federally approved American Viticultural Area (AVA).

Cabernet Sauvignon production exceeds Merlot production for the first time.

Rattlesnake Hills is established as a federally approved American Viticultural Area (AVA).

Wahluke Slope is established as a federally approved American Viticultural Area (AVA).

Columbia Crest 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon is named the number one wine in the world by Wine Spectator. Charles Smith Royal City Syrah receives a 100-point score from Wine Enthusiast, a first for the variety in Washington.

Lake Chelan is established as a federally approved American Viticultural Area (AVA).

Snipes Mountain is established as a federally approved American Viticultural Area (AVA).

Washington bonds its 441st winery.

The industry votes to increase their annual assessments to fund a world-class Wine Science Center at Washington State University.

Naches Heights is established as a federally approved American Viticultural Area (AVA).

Red wine grape production overtakes white wine grape production for the first time.

Ancient Lakes is established as a federally approved American Viticultural Area (AVA).

Cabernet Sauvignon becomes Washington’s most produced grape variety, surpassing Riesling and Chardonnay.

Ste Michelle Wine Science Center opens at WSU in Richland, Washington.

Lewis-Clark Valley is established as a federally approved American Viticultural Area (AVA).

Washington bonds its 1000th winery.

Royal Slope is established as a federally approved American Viticultural Area (AVA).

Candy Mountain is established as a federally approved American Viticultural Area (AVA).

The Burn of Columbia Valley is established as a federally approved American Viticultural Area (AVA).

White Bluffs is established as a federally approved American Viticultural Area (AVA).

Goose Gap is established as a federally approved American Viticultural Area (AVA).