Horse Heaven Hills AVA
HORS HEV-uhn HILZ
Washington's southern wall of the Columbia Valley, facing the Columbia River across approximately 570,000 acres of south-facing slope between the Yakima Valley and the river itself: anchor of Champoux, Columbia Crest, Mercer Estates, and the Wallula Vineyard that supplies Den Hoed's Andreas Cabernet plus Long Shadows' premium bottlings.
Horse Heaven Hills AVA is one of Washington State's largest and most productive AVAs, designated August 1, 2005. The AVA covers approximately 570,000 acres of south-facing slope along the northern shoulder of the Columbia River, bounded by the Yakima Valley AVA to the north, the Columbia River to the south, the Tri-Cities area to the east, and the Cascades foothills to the west. Approximately 12,000 to 15,000 acres are under vine, making Horse Heaven Hills one of Washington's largest vineyard areas after the broader Columbia Valley. The AVA's defining feature is the south-facing aspect: the entire AVA slopes southward toward the Columbia River, providing extended solar exposure and significant moderating effect from the river's thermal mass (one of the warmest sustained Cabernet-ripening conditions in Washington). The Wallula Vineyard at the eastern edge near the Columbia River anchors Den Hoed Wine Estates' Andreas Cabernet program and provides fruit to Long Shadows Vintners, Chateau Ste. Michelle, and other top producers. Champoux Vineyard (planted 1972, the historical Horse Heaven anchor) supplies Quilceda Creek's Palengat single-vineyard Cabernet and many other producers. Columbia Crest's Mountain Stelvin Vineyard plus Mercer Estates' family operations anchor the broader volume production. Stylistic identity: structured Cabernet Sauvignon and Bordeaux blends from premium sites; Chardonnay and Riesling at slightly cooler upper-slope sites; Merlot broadly across the AVA.
- AVA designated August 1, 2005; approximately 570,000 acres bounded by Yakima Valley AVA (north), Columbia River (south), Tri-Cities (east), Cascades foothills (west); ~12,000-15,000 acres under vine
- Defining feature: south-facing aspect across entire AVA; entire AVA slopes southward toward Columbia River; extended solar exposure plus river thermal-mass moderation produces one of WA's warmest sustained Cabernet-ripening conditions
- Premier vineyard sources: Champoux Vineyard (planted 1972, historical anchor, supplies Quilceda Palengat single-vineyard Cab plus many producers), Wallula Vineyard (anchors Den Hoed Andreas Cab, supplies Long Shadows), Mercer Estates family vineyards
- Stylistic anchors: Cabernet Sauvignon and Bordeaux blends from premium sites (Champoux-source Quilceda Palengat, Long Shadows Pirouette + Feather, Den Hoed Andreas); Merlot broadly; Chardonnay + Riesling at cooler upper-slope sites
- Volume producers: Columbia Crest (Ste. Michelle Wine Estates subsidiary, the largest Washington volume producer based at Paterson with Mountain Stelvin Vineyard and other Horse Heaven Hills sources); Mercer Estates (family operation with multiple Horse Heaven vineyards)
- Climate: continental high-desert with Cascade rain shadow; ~6-8 inches annual rainfall; Columbia River moderation reduces frost risk relative to interior Yakima Valley sites; 90+ F summer afternoons; 30-35 F diurnal swings
Geography, Aspect, and the Columbia River Moderation
Horse Heaven Hills AVA covers the south-facing slope on the northern shoulder of the Columbia River between Yakima Valley and the river itself. The entire AVA slopes southward (the only major Washington AVA with this uniform aspect): elevations range from approximately 200 metres at the Columbia River shoreline to 600 metres on the upper ridge near the Yakima Valley boundary. The south-facing aspect provides extended solar exposure at this northerly latitude (46-47 N), and the Columbia River's thermal mass moderates temperature extremes for vineyards on the lower slopes near the river. The river moderation reduces frost risk relative to interior Yakima Valley sites: the November 1996 cold snap that damaged many Walla Walla and inland sites caused less damage to Horse Heaven Hills sites near the river. Annual rainfall is 6 to 8 inches; summer afternoon highs regularly reach 90+ degrees F; growing-season Growing Degree Days reach 3,000 to 3,300 (warmer than the broader Columbia Valley but slightly cooler than Red Mountain). The combination of warm sustained ripening plus river-moderated frost protection makes Horse Heaven Hills one of Washington's most consistent producers of fully ripe Bordeaux varieties at volume scale.
- South-facing slope on northern shoulder of Columbia River between Yakima Valley and river itself; entire AVA slopes southward (unique among major WA AVAs)
- Elevation: 200 metres at Columbia River shoreline to 600 metres at upper ridge near Yakima Valley boundary; latitude 46-47 N
- Columbia River thermal mass moderation: reduces frost risk relative to interior sites; November 1996 freeze caused less damage to HHH sites near river than to Walla Walla and inland sites
- Climate: 6-8 inches annual rainfall, 90+ F summer afternoons, 3,000-3,300 GDD growing season; warmer than broader Columbia Valley but slightly cooler than Red Mountain
Champoux, Wallula, and the Premier Vineyard Sources
Horse Heaven Hills' commercial identity is shaped substantially by a handful of premier vineyard sources that supply many of Washington's top producers. Champoux Vineyard (planted 1972 by Mercer Ranches and now operated by Paul Champoux) is the historical Horse Heaven Hills anchor and one of Washington's earliest premium Cabernet plantings; Champoux supplies Quilceda Creek's Palengat single-vineyard Cabernet (a flagship Quilceda bottling), Andrew Will's Ciel du Cheval-paired Champoux bottlings, and many other top producers. The Wallula Vineyard at the eastern edge of the AVA near the Columbia River (operated by the Den Hoed family on land first farmed by their parents Andreas and Marie Den Hoed) is one of Washington's most-cited premium vineyards: the Wallula vineyard anchors Den Hoed Wine Estates' flagship Andreas Cabernet Sauvignon (named for the Den Hoed patriarch and made by Gilles Nicault of Long Shadows) and supplies Long Shadows Vintners' multiple bottlings including Pirouette plus Saggi (the Sangiovese-Cabernet Tuscan-influenced blend). Mercer Estates operates multiple family vineyards across Horse Heaven Hills and provides estate-bottled production at scale. Phinny Hill Vineyards, Coyote Canyon Vineyards, and others round out the premier grower hierarchy.
- Champoux Vineyard (planted 1972, Mercer Ranches origin, now Paul Champoux operation): historical HHH anchor; supplies Quilceda Creek Palengat single-vineyard Cab + Andrew Will Champoux bottlings + many others
- Wallula Vineyard (Den Hoed family, eastern AVA edge near Columbia River): anchors Den Hoed Andreas Cabernet (made by Gilles Nicault of Long Shadows); supplies Long Shadows Pirouette + Saggi + multiple bottlings
- Mercer Estates: multiple family vineyards across HHH; estate-bottled production at scale; family operation with deep Horse Heaven heritage
- Additional premier sources: Phinny Hill Vineyards, Coyote Canyon Vineyards; round out HHH premier grower hierarchy
Columbia Crest and the Volume Production
Columbia Crest, founded 1983 by Ste. Michelle Wine Estates, is the largest single Washington volume producer and the dominant Horse Heaven Hills commercial enterprise. Columbia Crest is based in Paterson at the southern edge of the AVA along the Columbia River and operates multiple substantial vineyards including the Mountain Stelvin Vineyard plus broader Horse Heaven Hills sources. The producer's tiered lineup includes the entry-level Grand Estates line (broad Columbia Valley sourcing), the mid-tier H3 line (Horse Heaven Hills sourced), and the premium Reserve line plus Walter Clore Private Reserve (named for Washington wine pioneer Walter Clore, the WSU horticulture researcher who advocated for Washington wine grape commercial development from the 1940s onward). Columbia Crest broadly produces approximately 2.4 million cases per year, making it among the largest single-winery commercial producers in the Pacific Northwest. The producer's H3 Cabernet Sauvignon bottling has won several international competitive awards and represents accessible premium Washington Cabernet at scale. Beyond Columbia Crest, the broader Horse Heaven Hills hosts Mercer Estates, McKinley Springs, Phinny Hill, and dozens of smaller estate producers.
- Columbia Crest (founded 1983, Ste. Michelle Wine Estates subsidiary, Paterson at southern HHH edge): largest single WA volume producer; ~2.4 million cases per year; among largest single-winery PNW producers
- Tiered lineup: Grand Estates (entry-level Columbia Valley sourcing), H3 (Horse Heaven Hills sourced mid-tier), Reserve, Walter Clore Private Reserve (named for WSU horticulture researcher and WA wine pioneer)
- H3 Cabernet Sauvignon: multiple international competitive awards; accessible premium WA Cabernet at scale
- Broader HHH: Mercer Estates, McKinley Springs, Phinny Hill, plus dozens of smaller estate producers; family-operation heritage strong in the AVA
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Open Wine Lookup →Stylistic Range and Critical Reference Bottlings
Horse Heaven Hills' stylistic identity centers on structured Cabernet Sauvignon and Bordeaux blends from the premier vineyard sources. The Quilceda Creek Palengat single-vineyard Cabernet (sourced from Champoux Vineyard) anchors the upper Horse Heaven Cabernet reference at the level of Red Mountain top bottlings; the Den Hoed Andreas Cabernet (Wallula Vineyard, made by Gilles Nicault) provides a second high-tier Cabernet reference. Long Shadows Vintners (founded 2003 by Allen Shoup, who left Ste. Michelle Wine Estates to create a multi-winemaker collaborative) sources extensively from Wallula and other Horse Heaven sites: Long Shadows' Pirouette (Bordeaux blend by Agustin Huneeus and Philippe Melka), Feather (Cabernet by Randy Dunn), and Saggi (Sangiovese-Cabernet Tuscan-influenced blend by Ambrogio Folonari) all source Horse Heaven fruit. Andrew Will's Champoux Cabernet single-vineyard bottling and Sorella reserve bottling source from Horse Heaven sites. Beyond the premium tier, the Columbia Crest H3 Cabernet, Mercer Estates Cabernet, McKinley Springs Cabernet, and Domaine Ste. Michelle sparkling bottlings (Horse Heaven Hills Cold Creek fruit) round out the AVA's broad stylistic range. Chardonnay from upper-slope cooler sites and Merlot from the broader AVA round out the variety mix.
- Premium Cabernet reference: Quilceda Creek Palengat (Champoux Vineyard source), Den Hoed Andreas (Wallula Vineyard, Gilles Nicault winemaking), Long Shadows Feather (Randy Dunn winemaking)
- Long Shadows Vintners (founded 2003, Allen Shoup): multi-winemaker collaborative; Pirouette (Huneeus + Melka), Feather (Dunn), Saggi (Folonari, Sangiovese-Cabernet Tuscan blend) all source HHH fruit
- Andrew Will Champoux Cabernet single-vineyard + Sorella reserve bottlings source HHH fruit
- Volume range: Columbia Crest H3, Mercer Estates, McKinley Springs Cabernet; Chardonnay from cooler upper-slope sites; Merlot broadly across AVA
Horse Heaven Hills Cabernet Sauvignon and Bordeaux blends show structured dense black-fruit register with firm tannin and 12-20 year ageing trajectories on top bottlings. The river-moderated climate produces slightly riper, slightly less aggressively tannic Cabernet than Red Mountain peers, but still structurally serious: blackcurrant, cassis, dark plum, tobacco leaf, and graphite mineral notes anchor the register. Champoux Vineyard-sourced bottlings (Quilceda Palengat, Andrew Will Champoux) show elegant restraint and aromatic complexity from the heritage 1972 planting depth. Wallula Vineyard-sourced bottlings (Den Hoed Andreas, Long Shadows Pirouette) show the distinctive gravely basaltic minerality cited by critics for Wallula fruit. Merlot from broader HHH sites shows plush black cherry and plum fruit with structured tannin. Chardonnay from upper-slope cooler sites shows lemon zest, green apple, and white peach with varying oak influence. Columbia Crest H3 Cabernet provides an accessible introduction to the regional stylistic register at significantly more accessible price point than premium single-vineyard bottlings.
- Horse Heaven Hills AVA designated August 1, 2005; ~570,000 acres on south-facing slope along Columbia River; ~12,000-15,000 acres under vine; entire AVA slopes southward (unique among major WA AVAs)
- Climate: continental high-desert with Cascade rain shadow + Columbia River thermal moderation; 6-8 inches annual rainfall, 90+ F summer afternoons, 3,000-3,300 GDD; river moderation reduces frost risk vs interior sites
- Champoux Vineyard (planted 1972, Mercer Ranches origin, now Paul Champoux operation): historical HHH anchor; supplies Quilceda Palengat Cab + Andrew Will Champoux + many others
- Wallula Vineyard (Den Hoed family, eastern AVA edge near Columbia River): anchors Den Hoed Andreas Cab (made by Gilles Nicault of Long Shadows); supplies Long Shadows Pirouette + Saggi
- Columbia Crest (1983, Ste. Michelle subsidiary, Paterson): largest single WA volume producer at ~2.4 million cases/year; tiered lineup Grand Estates → H3 → Reserve → Walter Clore Private Reserve