Red Mountain AVA
🔍 Quick Summary
Red Mountain AVA is Washington State’s most revered source for powerful, age-worthy red wines—especially Cabernet Sauvignon—with a bold signature rooted in heat, wind, and world-class vineyards.
📜 History
A young but mighty AVA with a bold identity.
Origin: Designated in 2001 — part of Yakima Valley in southeastern Washington.
Cabernet takes the crown: First planted in 1975, Cab thrives in the arid, sun-drenched slopes.
Rise of cult reds: Wineries like Col Solare and Quilceda Creek put Red Mountain on the map in the early 2000s.
High demand for grapes: Its low-yield, intensely flavored fruit is prized across the state.
Modern prestige: Home to estate-driven projects and big-name collaborations from Woodinville to Walla Walla.
🧠 What to Know
Despite its small size, Red Mountain delivers wines with intensity, structure, and age-worthiness.
It’s a slope, not a mountain – The “mountain” is really a low hill with a perfectly tilted southwest aspect.
Wind is key – Constant wind stress keeps yields low and tannins high, concentrating the wines.
Irrigation is mandatory – Less than 6 inches of rain per year = desert farming via the Columbia River.
Cabernet leads, but diversity follows – Syrah, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc also thrive in the wind-scoured soils.
Famous vineyards anchor its reputation – Ciel du Cheval (finesse), Kiona (historic), and Klipsun (ripeness)
📍 Where It’s Found
🇺🇸 Red Mountain AVA – A small AVA inside Yakima Valley, near the Columbia River. 15 minutes from Richland and ~3 hours from Seattle.
⬆️ Elevation: 600–1,400 ft / 180–425 m
☀️ Hot Continental Climate (75–95°F / 24–35°C) – Dry conditions, constant wind, and southwest exposure stress vines for concentrated flavors and thick skins—ideal for structure-driven reds.
🌡️ Historical Temperature Summary: 72–92°F (22–33°C) avg daytime highs during growing season. Based on 20-year average (2001–2020).
🔺 Warming Trend: Temperatures have risen ~3°F (1.7°C) since the 1980s, leading to earlier harvests and increased sugar accumulation in grapes.
🏛 Notable Producers
Col Solare – Italian (Antinori) project focused on Cabernet luxury
Hedges Family Estate – Biodynamic pioneer, estate-grown elegance
Kiona Vineyards – First to plant here; multi-generational mastery
Fidelitas – Charlie Hoppes crafts polished, modern reds
Quilceda Creek – Legendary WA Cab producer sourcing from Red Mountain vineyards
Upchurch Vineyard – Chris Upchurch (DeLille) focuses on site-specific expression
WeatherEye Vineyard – High-elevation site on the ridge; Rhône + Bordeaux standouts
Force Majeure – High-elevation blocks, age-worthy intensity
🍷 Wines to Try
These wines define the region’s style and legacy:
Red Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon – Dense, tannic, built to cellar for decades
Syrah from Ciel du Cheval – Dark fruit + smoked meat elegance
Bordeaux-style Red Blends – Polished and powerful with structure to spare
Merlot from Kiona or Upchurch – Plush but structured with dark cherry core
🗺️ To Further Explore
These zones reveal the region’s range and character:
Ciel du Cheval – Benchmark vineyard, known for balance and longevity
Klipsun Vineyard – Deep reds with ripeness and polish
Obelisco Estate – Lower slope fruit with plush power
Hedges Estate – Organic and biodynamic blocks showing savory structure
👅 Flavor & Style
Red Mountain wines are structured, bold, and cellar-worthy, with a distinct dusty edge.
Color: Deep ruby to opaque purple
Aromas & Flavors:
Primary: Blackberry, black cherry, cassis
Secondary: Espresso, cocoa, vanilla, graphite
Tertiary: Dried herbs, dusty earth, leather
Structure:
Body: Full
Tannin: High (firm, grippy)
Acidity: Moderate
Alcohol: High (14.5–15.5%)
🛠 Winemaking Notes
Wines from Red Mountain are built for structure and longevity.
Extended maceration – Deepens tannin and color extraction
New oak aging – Toasted barrels add spice and polish
Precision farming – Irrigation and canopy management counter the heat
Low yields, high density – Small berries = intensity
🍽 Food Pairing Ideas
Match Red Mountain’s power with bold, umami-rich foods and aged cheeses.
Savory: Grilled ribeye, lamb shanks, short ribs
Cheese: Aged gouda, blue cheese, manchego
Unexpected: Black bean mole, roasted eggplant with harissa, rosemary lentil stew
🔗 Related Topics to Explore
🍇 Cabernet Sauvignon – Backbone of Red Mountain style
🌋 Loess & Basalt Soils – Drive drainage and minerality
📍 Yakima Valley AVA – The parent region
🛢️ New Oak Aging – Key to Red Mountain’s bold expression
🌬 Diurnal Shift – Day-night temperature swings = preserved acidity
🧑🌾 Biodynamic Farming – Practiced by Hedges and others