Grapes of Washington

History

• The grapes of Washington state are no longer a cottage industry but a serious player in the competition for market share. Since the late 1970s, longtime Washington-state residents have seen the traditional cash crops of apples, wheat, peas and berries make way for an expanding grape industry for both juice and wine products. The Washington State Department of Agriculture reports that the acreage devoted to grape production has jumped from 4,000 to 35,000; and the number of Washington wineries has grown from 20 to more than 550 by 2008.

Whites

• Riesling grapes boast the distinction of being one of the first grapes of Washington. These crisp, white-wine grapes create a fruity, dry flavor. Semillon is another popular Washington wine grape that ages well to produce honeyed, nutty wines with flavors of citrus, melon, fig, fresh pears and vanillin. Washington vineyards also produce tart and tangy sauvignon blanc, apple-flavored chardonnay, light and fruity Müller-Thurgau, tropical citrus Madeleine Angevine and rose petal and honeysuckle-flavored Siegerrebe wine grapes. Interlaken seedless grapes are primarily grown for juice and jams.

Reds

• Muscat grapes make a wine with hints of oranges. Pinot noir grapes are susceptible to cold and mildew, so they require warm growing locations. They produce a popular, light, red fruit-flavored wine grape. Washington merlot wine grapes bottle a rich blend of cherry, berry, tomato flavors with the aroma of mint, nutmeg and cardamom. Cabernet sauvignon grapes age to create many flavor combinations featuring black currant, cherry, berry, chocolate, leather, mint, herbs and bell pepper. Lemon and ginger flavors mark wine made from chenin blanc grapes, while vintners often use cabernet franc wine grapes to blend with cabernet sauvignon. When bottled alone, it carries light coffee and strong blueberry flavors. Red table- and juice-grape varieties grown in Washington state include Canadice, Saturn and vanessa.

Rosé

• Pink Reliance variety grapes grown in full clusters with relatively large fruits. Their sweetness makes them a favorite as a table grape. Gewürztraminer is a cold-hardy wine grape that grows in compact clusters. It produces a rosé wine with aromas and flavors of allspice and tropical fruit.

Purples, Blues and Blacks

• Darker colored grapes such as Concord, Lynden Blue, Van Buren, Mars, Buffalo, Campbell Early are crushed and juiced to make grape juice and jams, as well as being sold as table grapes for fruit salads and healthy snacks. Marechal Foch grapes are made into a port-style wine with rich hints of toasted wheat, musk, chocolate and coffee. Syrah grapes lend their deep color to match the smoky, spicy aftertaste and plum and blackberry flavors.