Candy Mountain AVA (Sub-Appellation of Yakima Valley, Est. 2020)
Washington's smallest AVA packs outsized fruit intensity into 815 acres of sun-drenched, south-facing slopes near the Tri-Cities.
Candy Mountain AVA was formally established on September 25, 2020, becoming Washington's 16th and smallest AVA at just 815 acres. Located in Benton County near Richland, the appellation sits southeast of Red Mountain on south and southwest-facing slopes at elevations between 640 and 1,360 feet. With approximately 110 acres under vine dedicated almost entirely to red varieties, its defining features are thin, well-drained loess soils over ice age flood sediment and basalt bedrock, delivering concentrated, structured red wines.
- Formally established September 25, 2020 (effective October 26, 2020) as Washington's 16th AVA, published by the TTB in the Federal Register
- Smallest AVA in Washington at 815 total acres, surpassing Red Mountain (4,140 acres) as the state's tiniest appellation
- Approximately 110 acres under vine at establishment, almost all planted to red varieties including Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Syrah, and Sangiovese
- Elevation range of 640 to 1,360 feet on south and southwest-facing slopes in Benton County, with upper reaches above the Missoula Flood zone
- Soils consist of loess (windblown silt and sand) over ice age flood sediment on lower slopes and basalt bedrock on upper slopes; average annual precipitation is approximately 5 inches
- A sub-appellation of both the Yakima Valley AVA and the broader Columbia Valley AVA; TTB expanded the Yakima Valley boundary by 72 acres to fully encompass Candy Mountain
- Petition authored by Dr. Kevin R. Pogue, professor of geology at Whitman College, on behalf of Ramer Holtan, Premiere Columbia Partners LLC, and Paul and Vickie Kitzke of Kitzke Cellars
History and Heritage
Candy Mountain AVA's establishment on September 25, 2020, marked the culmination of years of viticultural work on this isolated mountain near the Tri-Cities. Candy Mountain Vineyard was planted in 1998, making it the oldest commercial planting in the appellation. The Kitzke family followed, planting Bordeaux varietals on Candy Mountain in 2000 and producing their first vintage in 2005. The AVA petition was authored by Dr. Kevin R. Pogue, a geology professor at Whitman College in Walla Walla and a leading expert on Columbia Basin terroir, on behalf of three industry members with established wine businesses within the proposed boundaries.
- Candy Mountain Vineyard established in 1998, one of the first commercial plantings in the appellation; subsequently acquired by Oregon Potato Co. owned by Frank Tiegs
- Kitzke family planted their Candy Ridge Vineyard estate block to Bordeaux varietals in 2000; first Kitzke Cellars vintage produced in 2005
- AVA petition authored by Dr. Kevin R. Pogue of Whitman College, the same geologist behind petitions for The Rocks District of Milton-Freewater, White Bluffs, and Rocky Reach AVAs
- TTB published the final rule on September 25, 2020; labeling rights took effect October 26, 2020
Geography and Climate
Candy Mountain sits in Benton County, Washington, with a portion of the appellation falling within the city limits of Richland. The AVA is located to the northeast of the Interstate 82 and Interstate 182 interchange, southeast of the more famous Red Mountain AVA, and adjacent to the Goose Gap AVA. The mountain is part of the Yakima Fold Belt, a chain of four ridges that also includes Red Mountain, Badger Mountain, and Little Badger Mountain. South and southwest-facing slopes at 2 to 20 degrees of incline range in elevation from 640 to 1,360 feet, with the upper slopes rising above the reach of the Missoula Floods that shaped the surrounding Columbia Valley floor.
- Located southeast of Red Mountain and adjacent to Goose Gap AVA; part of the Yakima Fold Belt chain of ridges in Benton County
- South and southwest-facing slopes at elevations from 640 to 1,360 feet, with inclines of 2 to 20 degrees providing excellent solar exposure
- Desert climate with approximately 5 inches average annual rainfall; daytime growing-season temperatures averaging 90 degrees Fahrenheit with nighttime drops below 50 degrees Fahrenheit
- Elevated position above surrounding valley floor provides excellent cold air drainage, reducing frost risk relative to the flat lowlands
Soils and Geology
The distinguishing features of Candy Mountain AVA, as identified in the TTB-approved petition, are its soils and topography. Lower slopes are covered by wind-deposited loess (silt and fine sand) overlying sediment deposited by the Pleistocene Missoula Floods. On the upper slopes, soils become shallower and give way to basalt bedrock. The thin soils restrict water-holding capacity and allow vine roots to reach the underlying basalt, which is rich in calcium-bearing feldspars and iron and magnesium minerals such as pyroxene and olivine. These minerals are not accessible to vines planted on the thicker soils of the surrounding plains, giving Candy Mountain a geochemically distinct growing environment.
- Lower slopes: loess (windblown silt and fine sand) over ice age flood sediment of silt, sand, and gravel
- Upper slopes: shallow loess over basalt bedrock, with thin soils restricting water retention and promoting vine stress
- Basalt bedrock contains calcium-rich feldspars and iron and magnesium minerals not accessible in deeper surrounding soils
- Shallow soils and steep slopes produce vines with deeper root systems and naturally lower yields compared to valley-floor sites
Grape Varieties and Wine Styles
At establishment, approximately 110 acres were planted within the AVA, with almost all dedicated to red varieties. The south-facing slopes, warm growing conditions, and thin, well-drained soils produce grapes with concentrated flavors, thick skins, and strong structural tannins. Plantings span Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Syrah, and Sangiovese. Kitzke Cellars, the only bonded winery within the appellation, has a particular focus on Bordeaux-style wines and field blends, with Cabernet Franc recognized as a standout variety for the site. Winemakers sourcing from Candy Mountain, including the team at L'Ecole No. 41, have described the fruit as producing big, structured wines with great balance and aging capacity.
- Cabernet Sauvignon: primary variety, producing full-bodied, structured wines benefiting from warm temperatures and south-facing exposure
- Cabernet Franc: noted as a standout variety for the site by Kitzke Cellars, with vibrant aromatic character and mineral precision
- Merlot, Syrah, and Sangiovese: also planted, reflecting the warm-climate character of the appellation
- Kitzke Cellars produces field-blended Bordeaux-style wines using native yeasts and minimal intervention, aged in French oak
Notable Producers and Vineyards
Kitzke Cellars is the only bonded winery located within the Candy Mountain AVA. Founded by Paul and Vickie Kitzke, who planted their Candy Ridge estate vineyard in 2000, the winery is now guided by their son Seth Kitzke, who took over winemaking duties in 2016. Seth employs native-yeast fermentations and herbicide-free viticulture. Candy Mountain Vineyard, originally established in 1998 and owned by Premiere Columbia Partners LLC, is a 50-acre planting and the oldest commercial site in the appellation; it was subsequently acquired by Oregon Potato Co., owned by Frank Tiegs. Shaw Vineyards is also present within the appellation. Beyond the AVA boundary, notable fruit buyers have included L'Ecole No. 41 in the Walla Walla Valley, whose winemaker Marty Clubb has sourced Candy Mountain grapes for more than two decades.
- Kitzke Cellars: the only bonded winery within the AVA; Paul and Vickie Kitzke planted their Candy Ridge estate in 2000; son Seth Kitzke has been winemaker since 2016
- Candy Mountain Vineyard: established 1998, approximately 50 acres, the oldest commercial vineyard in the AVA; acquired by Oregon Potato Co. owned by Frank Tiegs
- Shaw Vineyards and Candy Mountain Hill Vineyard (jointly owned by Dick Shaw and Ramer Holtan): additional producing vineyard sites within the AVA at establishment
- L'Ecole No. 41 (Walla Walla Valley): longstanding external buyer of Candy Mountain fruit, with winemaker Marty Clubb sourcing grapes for over 20 years
AVA Classification and Labeling
Candy Mountain AVA operates as a nested sub-appellation: it lies entirely within both the Yakima Valley AVA and the larger Columbia Valley AVA. To accommodate this, the TTB expanded the Yakima Valley AVA boundary by approximately 72 acres as part of the same final rule that established Candy Mountain. For a wine to carry the Candy Mountain AVA designation on its label, at least 85 percent of the grapes must originate within the appellation, consistent with federal TTB standards. Wineries gained the right to submit Certificate of Label Approval requests using the new AVA name beginning October 26, 2020, one month after the final rule was published.
- Nested sub-appellation within both Yakima Valley AVA and Columbia Valley AVA; TTB expanded the Yakima Valley boundary by 72 acres to fully encompass Candy Mountain
- 85 percent minimum grape-sourcing requirement for Candy Mountain AVA labeling, in line with federal TTB standards
- Label use permitted from October 26, 2020; first eligible vintage releases carried the 2018 vintage year
- Wines may alternatively carry the broader Yakima Valley or Columbia Valley AVA designations
Candy Mountain's red wines, led by Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc, reflect the concentration and structural intensity produced by thin, well-drained loess soils over basalt bedrock on south-facing slopes. Warm days and cool nights deliver ripe, deep fruit character with preserved natural acidity. The thin soils and vine stress typical of the site contribute to small berries with thick skins, producing full-bodied, age-worthy wines with firm tannins, dark fruit, and a mineral quality linked to the basalt bedrock beneath the upper slopes.