On June 30, I received an email press release from Heather Bradshaw, Communications Director of The Washington State Wine Commission announcing the approval by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) of Washington State's newest American Viticultural Area (AVA), Goose Gap. This follows the approval of the previous two AVAs in Mid June of White Bluffs and The Burn of Columbia Valley. These are significant and overdue additions to the list of Washington AVAs. 

Goose Gap

This is Washington's 19th AVA. It is situated within the Yakima Valley AVA and is located near the juncture of Interstate 82 and I-182. The name is for a saddle of land known as "Goose Gap." a flyway for geese. The orientation is east to west with vineyards on the north and northeast slopes. The soils are predominately Warden series wind-blown loess over stratified Missoula Food deposits with rooting depths of six feet or more, ideal for vineyards. The principal grower-winery is Goose Ridge.

The Burn of Columbia Valley

The 18th Washington AVA is located between the Columbia Gorge and the Horse Heaven Hills AVAs. It is so called for a burned-over area in the AVA. Soils (basalt and loess) are similar to those of the Walla Walla Valley AVA but with slightly warmer and milder temperatures, cooled by winds coming from the Gorge. The principal growers are Ste. Michelle Wine Estates and Mercer Ranches. 

White Bluffs

The 17th Washington AVA is located north of Pasco, comprised of two plateaus above the plains of the Pasco Basin. White Bluffs gets its name for a layer of lakebed sediment referred to as a Ringold formation with a whitish appearance. The soils are sedimentary Missoula Flood deposits with no basalt contact for grapevines. The principal vineyards are Sagemoor, Bacchus and Dionysus which were first planted in the 1970's by wine growing pioneer, Alec Bayless. 

For more information about these new AVAs, go to www.washingtonwine.org/press/.

Ste. Michelle Wine Estates to be Acquired by Sycamore Partners

Another piece of big news this week was the announcement that Ste. Michelle, a subsidiary of the Altria Group, was to be acquired by Sycamore Partners Management, a private equity company for approximately 1.2 billion dollars. Of course, this is big news because Ste. Michelle Wine Estates is the Washington wine industry giant which includes Chateau Ste Michelle, Columbia Crest and other brands including Stag's Leap Wine Cellars, and importation agreements with Antinori and Champagne Nicolas Feuillatte. Ste Michelle's President and CEO, David Dearie looks forward to working with Sycamore Partners.