SENIORS ENJOY WASHINGTON’S COLUMBIA VALLEY



Seniors Discover Great Wine

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Columbia Valley is the largest of Washington State’s valleys, with almost 11 million acres. It also encompasses smaller valleys, like Walla Walla and Yakima. The Valley is home to Cabernet Sauvignon that this senior enjoys. Grapes have been grown in the Columbia Valley since the 1860s.

Columbia Valley is on the label of one of my favorite red wines. They say that the bold style Cabernet Sauvignon displays great complexity and structure with aromas of dark berry fruits and plum on the nose with chocolate and vanilla on the palate. Wow. Sounds good to me, I like the “dark berry fruits”, my wife likes the “chocolate and vanilla”.

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 So senior oenophiles, buckle up as we go to Columbia Valley in Washington state to check out the territory and some fine wines. Columbia Valley is huge, roughly one-third of the state’s entire landmass. Nearly 99 percent of the grapes grown in Washington come from Columbia Valley.

 Seniors Enjoy Beautiful Vineyards

The Columbia Valley, referred to locally as the Columbia Basin, is an American Viticultural Area which lies in the Columbia River Plateau, through much of central and southern Washington State, with a small section crossing into the neighboring state of Oregon.

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As Columbia Valley is a dry region, irrigation is often required and this restricts the location of its vineyards. The development of intricate irrigation systems has allowed this Valley to become a premium grape growing region.

Vineyards are planted on predominately south-facing slopes, increasing solar radiation in summer and promoting air drainage in winter. Riesling, Merlot, Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon are the most widely planted varietals with a growing season of 180-200 days. Gotastewine.com has a listing of the major tasting opportunities senior visitors will have in the area. 

 The Valley and valleys, River and rivers

1024px-columbiavalley_lakeThe Cascade Range forms the western boundary of the Valley with the Palouse regions bordering the area to the east. To the north, the Okanogan National Forest forms a border with Canada. The valleys within the Valley are formed by the Columbia River and its tributaries, including the Walla Walla River, the Snake River, and the Yakima River.

Wikipedia notes that…the whole region shares the common climate traits of cold winters and long dry growing seasons with low humidity. The warm days and cool nights of the area help retain the balance of acid and sugar levels in the grape which give Washington wines their characteristic balance in flavors.

 Seniors, don’t miss scenic Columbia Valley.  It will be a memorable trip, a scenic trip and a highly tasty trip! -jeb

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