How many AVAs are too many? Take the Napa test
Today, I was chatting with someone about Naches Heights, Washington’s newest American Viticultural Area.
“When does Washington have enough appellations?” my friend asked. “Twelve seems like a lot.”
While 12 might seem like quite a few for just one state, consider this: Napa Valley - an area that is about three miles wide and 27 miles long - has 16 AVAs. That’s right. An area much more compact than the Yakima Valley has more appellations than the entire state of Washington.
They are:
- Los Carneros
- Howell Mountain
- Wild Horse Valley
- Stags Leap District
- Mt. Veeder
- Atlas Peak
- Spring Mountain District
- Oakville
- Rutherford
- St. Helena
- Chiles Valley
- Yountville
- Diamond Mountain District
- Oak Knoll District
- Calistoga
- Napa Valley
Other comparisons between tiny Napa Valley and the entire state of Washingto
- Napa Valley has 43,000 acres of wine grapes, while Washington has a bit more than 40,000 acres.
- Napa Valley has about 300 wineries, while Washington has more than 750.
