🍇

2018 Washington State Vintage

A warm, generous growing season that delivered one of Washington's most celebrated vintages in two decades, with ideal harvest conditions producing wines of remarkable depth and balance.

The 2018 vintage is widely regarded by Washington winemakers and critics as one of the finest in the past 20 years. A warm spring and summer gave way to a near-perfect September and October harvest window, producing red and white wines of exceptional depth, balance, and aging potential. With 261,000 tons crushed, it was also the second-largest harvest in Washington state history.

Key Facts

April was cool, delaying bud break slightly, but May was one of the warmest on record, advancing bloom quickly across the Columbia Valley
Bloom was fast and even, contributing to a larger-than-normal crop that required extensive fruit thinning through the summer
Harvest conditions in September and October were described by multiple producers as near-perfect, with warm days, cold nights, and long hang time extending into November in some sites
Washington's 2018 wine grape harvest totaled approximately 261,000 tons, making it the second-largest crop in state history behind the 2016 record of 270,000 tons
2018 marked Quilceda Creek's 40th vintage; their Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon received 100-point scores from multiple critics
Many Washington State winemakers consider 2018 one of the most captivating vintages in the past two decades, praised by Decanter, Vinous, and Wine Enthusiast
Unlike 2017, 2018 was free from significant wildfire smoke impact, and unlike 2015 and 2016, summer heat did not become excessive, preserving aromatic freshness

🌤️Weather and Growing Season Overview

The 2018 growing season in Washington State was characterised by variability in the early months that ultimately resolved into near-perfect conditions at harvest. April was cool, delaying bud break slightly, but May was one of the warmest on record, rapidly advancing the vines through bloom. June brought cooler temperatures, while July and August turned warm again, raising concerns early in the season that it might become one of the hottest vintages on record. Just before Labor Day, cooler air arrived and temperatures settled beautifully through much of September and October, slowing ripening and giving grapes extended hang time. The warm-but-not-hot harvest gave winemakers the luxury of patience, allowing full phenolic development while preserving natural acidity in both reds and whites.

April cool and slow; May one of the warmest on record, advancing bloom ahead of schedule across the Columbia Valley
Fast, even bloom contributed to a larger-than-normal crop, requiring significant fruit thinning to ensure quality ripening
September and October harvest window described by producers as near-perfect: warm days, cold nights, and extended hang time into November at some sites
Vintage free from significant wildfire smoke impact, a contrast to the challenging 2017 season

🗺️Regional Highlights Across Washington AVAs

Every major Washington AVA produced wines of high quality in 2018, each expressing its own distinct character. Decanter noted that the top 2018 red wine bottlings displayed remarkable poise, texture, and flavour density spanning all Washington State AVAs. Red Mountain, known for its gravelly alkaline soils and intense sun exposure, produced structured and concentrated Cabernet Sauvignons. The Walla Walla Valley, home to over 100 wineries, delivered standout Bordeaux varietals and Syrahs, with producers from the Rocks District of Milton-Freewater gaining attention for their distinctive stony-terroir wines. Yakima Valley contributed quality Rieslings and Syrahs, with its wide diurnal temperature swings helping retain natural acidity across all varieties.

Red Mountain: Gravelly, alkaline soils and maximum sun exposure produced deeply concentrated Cabernet Sauvignons with age-worthy structures
Walla Walla Valley: Bordeaux varietals and Syrah excelled; producers including Leonetti Cellar, Figgins, and Reynvaan Family Vineyards earned high critical praise
Yakima Valley: Quality Rieslings and Syrahs benefited from long hang time and significant diurnal temperature variation preserving acidity
Columbia Valley as a whole benefited from ideal late-season conditions, producing accessible yet structured wines across all price points

🏆Standout Producers and Wines

The 2018 vintage produced some of Washington's most celebrated wines across all price points. Quilceda Creek marked its 40th vintage with a Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon that earned 100-point scores from multiple critics. The vintage was also a landmark year for producers including Leonetti Cellar, Reynvaan Family Vineyards, DeLille Cellars, Andrew Will, Avennia, Corliss, and Long Shadows, all of which earned strong critical acclaim. The Betz Family Winery Heart of the Hill Cabernet Sauvignon from Red Mountain and the Figgins Estate Red from Walla Walla Valley were highlighted by Wine Enthusiast as standout expressions of the vintage. Across the board, winemakers reported that even from the press, the saturated colours and concentrated flavours signalled something exceptional.

Quilceda Creek Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon: 40th vintage; received 100-point scores from multiple critics including Owen Bargreen and others
Reynvaan Family Vineyards Foothills Reserve Syrah: Received 98 points from Owen Bargreen; praised for silky texture and impeccable aromatic complexity
Leonetti Cellar Merlot Walla Walla Valley: Earned 96 points from James Suckling, a benchmark for the appellation
Figgins Estate Red and Horsepower Sur Echalas Syrah among Wine Enthusiast Cellar Selection and Editors Choice highlights from the vintage

⏰Drinking Window in 2026

Seven years on from harvest, the 2018 Washington reds are in an exciting phase. Critics and producers who have revisited these wines note that many are drinking beautifully now, showing the integration of oak, developing secondary complexity, and still displaying the vibrant fruit and fresh structure that defined the vintage. Top-tier Cabernet Sauvignons from Red Mountain and Walla Walla have the structure to continue developing for many years, while mid-range producers' reds are at or near their peak. Quilceda Creek's Cabernet is projected to evolve gracefully for two decades or more from release. Whites, including Rieslings with their natural acidity, should be enjoyed now or in the near term.

Premium Cabernet Sauvignons from Red Mountain and Walla Walla Valley: Drinking well now but built to continue developing through 2035 and beyond
Mid-tier Columbia Valley reds: At or near peak; optimal drinking window roughly 2024 to 2030
Reynvaan Foothills Reserve Syrah: Drink window cited as 2025 to 2033 by critic Owen Bargreen
Rieslings and lighter whites: Best consumed now; peak drinking window largely passed for extended cellaring

💡Vintage Context and Comparison

2018 stands apart from the vintages immediately before and after it in important ways. Unlike 2017, when wildfire smoke affected portions of the state throughout the summer, 2018 was clean and warm without being excessive, avoiding the over-ripeness that affected some 2015 and 2016 reds. The vintage sits between two more challenging years: 2017, which was better for whites than reds due to smoke, and 2019, which was a freeze vintage with mixed results for reds. One Walla Walla producer described 2018 as combining the soft nectarous character of the celebrated 2012 vintage with the structure and stoicism of 2010. Multiple critics, including Owen Bargreen writing for both Vinous and Decanter, rated it among the finest Washington vintages of the past two decades.

Compared to 2017: No significant smoke impact; better across the board for red wines
Compared to 2015 and 2016: Warm but not excessively hot, preserving aromatic freshness and avoiding over-ripeness
One producer described 2018 as combining the nectarous softness of 2012 with the structure of 2010, making it uniquely versatile
Vinous described 2018 as completing arguably the finest lineup of Washington wines in the last 20 years