For the longest time I always imagined Oregon and Washington wine country as identical. This theory makes sense on paper because both states are in the northwest United States and conjure images of plaid shirts and evergreen trees. However, Oregon and Washington wine country are very different from one another. Let’s compare the differences in Washington vs. Oregon and understand what each state does best.
Washington vs. Oregon Wine (Infographic)
Portrait of Oregon Wine
The largest region in Oregon producing wine is the Willamette Valley which is a cool climate valley in the western part of the state. The most important wines are:
- Pinot Noir
- Pinot Gris
- Chardonnay
In Oregon, there are many growers with small estates producing limited amounts of wines. Oregon has more strict labeling laws than the rest of the United States by requiring that if a wine is labeled ‘Pinot Noir’ it must contain 90% of that grape.
Portrait of Washington Wine
In Washington, the largest region for producing wine is in the Eastern part of the state which has a dry, high desert climate. The most important grapes are:
- Cabernet Sauvignon
- Merlot
- Riesling
Washington state has large grape farms —up to 2,000 acres— that typically sell grapes to wineries. Because the majority of the population in WA is on the western side of the state, grapes are transported to wineries around Seattle.
Sources
This infographic was originally designed by Madeline Puckette and featured in the July 2013 issue of the Seattle Met Magazine