15 Wines That Will Help You Understand Washington State

Those adhering today to the legendary prompt of 19th-century America - "Go west, young man" - would serve themselves well by not going all the way west, particularly if the goal is to make Pacific Northwest wine.

Coastal Washington has beauty and charms all its own and even produces some of the state's wine. But eastern Washington is predominantly where the state's wines come from - most famously its cabernet sauvignon, merlot, riesling and syrah, among other varietals and blends. The state grows close to 70 grape varieties, after all, in roughly a 60/40 split, red to white. So, if the east is the best in the Northwest, it might cause you to wonder aloud: "East of what?"

Great question. East of the Cascades - the mountain range that acts like a gigantic meteorological checkpoint, keeping the state's wet weather west and preserving the much drier climate of the east, where vineyards enjoy long, hot sunny days and cool nights. Because of Washington's northerly latitude, vineyards there enjoy longer days of sunshine than do wine regions to the south, and longer days are good for ripening. When the northern night air rolls in and temperatures dip drastically (as much as 50 degrees in a single day), it helps grapes retain their all-important acidity. You can generally count on bright fruit and vibrant acidity in the wines of Washington, the country's largest wine-producing state after California.

For the complete story see: Chicago Tribune