Rattlesnake Hills AVA

Rattlesnake Hills AVA (wine region)
Type	American Viticultural Area
Year established	2006[1]
Years of wine industry	since 1968
Country	USA
Part of	Columbia Valley AVA, Washington, Yakima Valley AVA
Climate region	Region II
Heat units	2600 - 3000
Precipitation (annual average)	7 inches (18 cm)
Soil conditions	silt loam
Total area	68,500 acres (27,721 ha)
Size of planted vineyards	1,500 acres (607 ha)
No. of vineyards	29
Grapes produced	Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, Gewurztraminer, Malbec, Merlot, Muscat Canelli, Petite Sirah, Riesling, Semillon, Viognier[2]
Wine produced	Varietal, Dessert wine, Meritage
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The Rattlesnake Hills AVA is an American Viticultural Area located in Yakima County, Washington. The AVA is entirely contained within the Yakima Valley AVA, which is in turn is entirely contained within the larger Columbia Valley AVA. The hills form the northern boundary of Yakima Valley, and the AVA includes land between the north bank of the Sunnyside Canal and the entirety of the southern slopes of the Rattlesnake Hills between Outlook and the Wapato Dam. The AVA is centered around the city of Zillah. With elevations ranging from 850 feet (259 m) to 3,085 feet (940 m), this AVA contains the highest point in the Yakima Valley AVA

Vineyards

Pinot Noir grapes in May in the Rattlesnake Hills AVA. The Rattlesnake Hills lie in the background.

Vineyards in Rattlesnake Hills AVA include the Morrison Vineyard, planted in 1968 to Riesling and Cabernet Sauvignon for Chateau Ste. Michelle. It is the oldest vineyard in the AVA. In the late 1970’s and early 1980’s, the Hyatt Vineyard, Whisky Canyon, Outlook, and the Portteus Vineyard were also planted.

See also

• Washington wine

References