Puget Sound AVA

Puget Sound AVA stretches 190 miles from the Canadian border in the north to Olympia in the south, extending up to 60 miles east to west. The AVA encompasses 12 Washington counties and includes notable islands such as Bainbridge, Whidbey, and the San Juan Islands. Named by Captain George Vancouver in 1791, the sound shapes the maritime character of the entire region. Existing vineyards sit between sea level and 600 feet elevation, with the broader basin reaching up to 1,000 feet.

• 190 miles north-south, up to 60 miles east-west
• Encompasses Bainbridge, Whidbey, and San Juan Islands among others
• Vineyard elevations range from sea level to 600 feet (183 m)
• Located entirely west of the Cascades, isolating it from eastern Washington's continental climate

Puget Sound experiences a temperate maritime climate, the coolest and wettest in Washington State. Annual precipitation ranges from 15 to 60 inches, with mild, wet winters and warm, dry summers. The growing season exceeds 180 days, and the region falls in hardiness zone 9a. Despite the reputation for rainfall, Puget Sound receives more sunshine than Bordeaux and has drier average precipitation than Burgundy. Soils consist of gravelly sandy loam over glacial hardpan, providing good drainage and allowing most vineyards to dry farm entirely on winter rainfall.

• 1,300 to 2,200 growing degree days, Washington's coolest range
• Gravelly sandy loam over glacial hardpan soils
• Receives more sunshine than Bordeaux; drier average precipitation than Burgundy
• Dry farming possible due to abundant winter rainfall recharge

The cool maritime climate favors varieties that ripen reliably in low heat accumulation. Madeleine Angevine, Siegerrebe, Müller-Thurgau, Madeline Sylvaner, Melon de Bourgogne, and Regent thrive alongside more familiar names such as Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Riesling, and Chardonnay. The resulting wines are light, crisp, and low in alcohol, with particularly expressive aromatic whites and elegant Pinot Noir. Gerard Bentryn of Bainbridge Island Vineyard and Winery is credited with introducing Siegerrebe to the United States and importing cool-climate varietals from Canada and Germany.

• Madeleine Angevine and Siegerrebe are signature cool-climate white varieties
• Pinot Noir is the primary red, producing elegant, lighter-styled wines
• Wines are characteristically light, crisp, and low in alcohol
• Gerard Bentryn introduced Siegerrebe to the U.S. through this region

Winemaking history in the Puget Sound area stretches back to 1872, when Lambert Evans planted the first vineyard on Stretch Island. Aaron Eckert followed in 1889 with the Island Belle vineyard. The modern era began in 1977 when Bainbridge Island Vineyard and Winery was established, pioneering cool-climate varieties suited to the maritime environment. The AVA was officially recognized on October 4, 1995. Today, over 100 wineries operate in the region, though only around 20 produce wine exclusively from Puget Sound-grown grapes.

• First vineyard planted 1872 by Lambert Evans on Stretch Island
• Bainbridge Island Vineyard and Winery founded 1977 as the first modern winery
• AVA established October 4, 1995
• Over 100 wineries in the region; approximately 20 use exclusively local fruit