With more than 400 wineries, 350 wine grape growers and 30 000 vineyard acres the Washington state is second largest producer of wine in the US, contributing $3 billion annually to the state economy and employing 14 000 people.

Washington region exports going to over 40 countries around the world from the 500 wineries located in the state. Washington produces premium and superpremium wines. In 2006, The Wine Advocate gave two perfect scores of 100 points for Cabernet Sauvignon wines made by Quilceda Creek Vintners using grapes from the Columbia Valley. Only 15 other American wines have ever been scored so highly by The Wine Advocate, all from California.

The WA wine region has nine federally-defined American Viticultural Areas (AVA) mostly located in Eastern Washington. The largest is the Columbia Valley, which extends into a small portion of northern Oregon and also encompasses six of the other Washington AVAs. These include the Walla Walla Valley , the Horse Heaven Hills, the Wahluke Slope, and the Yakima Valley, which in turn also encompasses the Rattlesnake Hills and the Red Mountain. The Columbia Gorge is west of the Columbia Valley. Washington’s only AVA located west of the Cascades is the Puget Sound. The Lake Chelan and the Ancient Lakes wine-growing regions of eastern Washington are currently seeking federal AVA status.

Washington produces more than 20 wine grape varieties – a ratio of 56 % white to 44 % red.
The grape varieties are:
Washington Reds: CABERNET SAUVIGNON, MERLOT, SYRAH, CABERNET FRANC, Lemberger, Malbec
Sangiovese, Pinot Noir, Zinfandel

Washington Whites: CHARDONNAY, RIESLING, SAUVIGNON BLANC, SEMILLON, Gewuztraminer, Aligote, Madeleine Angevine, Muscat Canelli, Muller Thurgau, Pinot Gris, Siegerrebe, Viognier, Roussanne

Some of best Washington wines:
Quilceda Creek 2004 Galitzine Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon
Dunham 2004 Lewis Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon
Smasne Cellars 2006 Smasne Vineyard Estate Dry Riesling
Cuillin Hills 2005 Syrah
Trust 2006 Semillon Ice Wine
Soos Creek 2005 Artist Series #5 Red Wine
Leonetti Cellar 2004 Reserve
Andrew Will 2005 Sorella Red Wine
Buty 2006 67%Semillon & 33% Sauvignon Blanc
Walla Walla Vintners 2005 Sagemoor Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon