We love spring in the wine country of Eastern Washington. Bud break is happening, and wildflowers abound in the desert. If you work in the vineyards of Red Mountain AVA or Walla Walla AVA you can enjoy this in real-time. However, for the rest of us, we can enjoy the many virtual events planned for this April from the comforts of our home.
What is so special about Red Mountain AVA located 200 miles east of Seattle? Red Mountain is really just a small hill that turns red in the fall. Much of this AVA is southwest facing, with long summer daylight hours and warm, direct sun, all of which deliver a delicious Cabernet Sauvignon. Also, the sand, silt, and loam from the historic Missoula Floods give this wine great texture.
Walla Walla AVA is less than an hour’s drive away from Red Mt, so what is the difference between them? They have similar warm summers and long daylight hours that the Cab Sauv thrives in. One difference is the deep layers of loess found in many places in Walla Walla. Loess is windblown silt that was ground up during the last ice age. The most significant difference is rainfall. The west parts of Walla Walla are very arid and similar to Red Mt AVA and get less than 10 inches of rain yearly. However, the eastern parts near the foothills of the Blue Mountains get close 22 inches.
You can learn more about these wine regions this April. The Red Mountain AVA Alliance will host weekly Facebook Live events. You will hear from winemakers, and chefs will suggest some food pairing and more.
Want to taste some of their wine? Here are some special offerings.
Walla Walla is also doing virtual wine events from Happy Hour to Vertical tastings, so check out these events. Vertical tastings are very intriguing - - and let you taste and learn about how different weather conditions impact each season’s vintage.
Buy low and sell high. That is an old stock market cliché and while we are not stock market experts, we do know about some wine specials going on now. Check out these specials offered on Walla Walla wines.
