Royal Slope AVA

The Royal Slope name appears on maps dating back nearly 100 years, with local folklore crediting a pair of Scotsmen who climbed the nearby Saddle Mountains in the early 1900s and exclaimed at the majesty of the south-facing terrain below. Wine grape planting began in 1983 when federal irrigation water first became available via the Columbia Basin Irrigation Project from Grand Coulee Dam, and the town of Royal City was officially incorporated in 1962 following that same water development. The AVA petition was submitted to the TTB on February 23, 2017, by Dr. Alan Busacca, a licensed geologist and founder of Vinitas Vineyard Consultants, co-written with Richard Rupp, a GIS specialist at Washington State University, on behalf of the Royal Slope Wine Growers Association. A roughly four-year delay from filing to approval was attributed partly to a TTB backlog. The final rule was published September 2, 2020, with an effective designation date of October 2, 2020.

• First wine grape plantings in 1983 when federal irrigation water became available; the region grew from a single 40-acre vineyard in 1998 to more than 1,900 planted acres by 2020
• AVA petition submitted February 23, 2017 by the Royal Slope Wine Growers Association; designated October 2, 2020 after comprehensive geological, climatological, and viticultural evidence review
• The Royal Slope name has been used since at least the 1950s; local folklore attributes it to Scotsmen who surveyed the south-facing topography from the Saddle Mountains and called it a 'royal slope'
• Royal City, the only town within the AVA, was officially incorporated in 1962 following expansion of Columbia Basin irrigation infrastructure

Royal Slope AVA occupies the south-facing slopes of the Frenchman Hills, a 30-mile east-west trending ridge in central Washington, and has been described by petition co-author Alan Busacca as a geographic island surrounded on all four sides by dramatically different terrain. To the north the Frenchman Hills fall away to the flat, sandy Quincy Basin; to the northeast are sand dunes and pothole ponds; to the east and south lies the harsh basalt-bedrock Crab Creek Coulee scoured out by the Missoula Floods; and to the west, bedrock cliffs plunge steeply to the Columbia River. The AVA's average vineyard elevation of approximately 1,300 feet is more than twice the approximately 600-foot elevation of the Wahluke Slope 15 miles to the south, producing measurably cooler daytime and nighttime temperatures. With only 6 to 8 inches of annual precipitation, all commercial viticulture depends on drip irrigation.

• Elevation ranges from 610 feet above sea level to 1,756 feet; average vineyard elevation approximately 1,300 feet, compared to roughly 600 feet on the Wahluke Slope 15 miles south
• Semi-arid continental climate with 6 to 8 inches average annual precipitation; 10-year average of 2,900 growing degree days, notably cooler than eastern Washington's warmest AVAs at over 3,300 GDD
• Soils are predominantly Aridisols formed of windblown silts and loess; major series Warden, Sagemoore, Adkins, and Kennewick comprise approximately 59 percent of AVA soils and approximately 75 percent of vineyard acreage
• About 90 percent of the AVA features south-facing slopes of less than 15 percent gradient, providing excellent sun exposure at Washington's northerly latitude while limiting freeze risk compared to valley floors

Royal Slope AVA supports more than 20 grape varieties across its diverse elevation range, with Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, and Chardonnay identified by the Washington State Wine Commission as the top three. The region's climate is described in the TTB petition as warm but not excessively hot, making it suitable for both red and white varieties including Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Riesling, and Chardonnay. The higher average elevation relative to Wahluke Slope yields slightly cooler growing conditions and somewhat more extended hang time, which in turn produce wines with greater natural acidity and refined phenolic development. Red varieties planted across the AVA include Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Malbec, Petit Verdot, Grenache, Mourvèdre, Sangiovese, Tempranillo, and Cinsault. White varieties include Chardonnay, Riesling, Viognier, Roussanne, Chenin Blanc, Pinot Gris, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, and Gewurztraminer.

• Top varieties per Washington State Wine Commission: Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, and Chardonnay; over 20 total varieties cultivated across the AVA's diverse elevations and soil types
• Cabernet Sauvignon: flagship red with dark fruit concentration, firm structure, and natural acidity from the cooler high-elevation growing conditions relative to Wahluke Slope
• Syrah: expressive and mineral-driven, with the region's most celebrated example being Charles Smith's 2006 Royal City Syrah from Stoneridge Vineyard, Washington State's first 100-point wine from Wine Enthusiast
• Chardonnay: benefits from the high-elevation advantage through angular minerality and preserved acidity; Riesling also demonstrates strong potential given the wide elevation and diurnal temperature variation

Stillwater Creek Vineyard is the AVA's most prominent estate, a 235-acre site planted in 2000 on a steep south-facing slope by the Alberg family. Tom Alberg established Novelty Hill winery that same year with acclaimed winemaker Mike Januik, and the vineyard supplies fruit to numerous top Washington wineries. Lawrence Vineyards, owned by Josh and Lisa Lawrence along with Josh's father John and uncle Sandy Lawrence, operates approximately 450 acres across multiple named sites in the Royal Slope including Corfu Crossing (first planted 2003), Scarline, Laura Lee, Solaksen, Thunderstone, Stoneridge, and Boneyard Vineyards. The Lawrence family also founded Gård Vintners in 2006, an estate winery producing wines exclusively from Royal Slope grapes with tasting rooms in Walla Walla, Woodinville, Ellensburg, and the Gård Public House restaurant in Royal City. Frenchman Hills Vineyard and Golden West are additional significant growers, while Mullan Road Cellars and K Vintners (Charles Smith) are among the notable wineries sourcing from the region.

• Stillwater Creek Vineyard (235 acres, planted 2000): estate vineyard of Novelty Hill, owned by the Alberg family and managed under winemaker Mike Januik; supplies numerous top Washington wineries
• Lawrence Vineyards: approximately 450 certified-sustainable acres across multiple sites including Corfu Crossing (2003), Stoneridge, Solaksen, and Thunderstone; owners Josh and Lisa Lawrence founded Gård Vintners in 2006
• Gård Vintners (founded 2006): estate winery producing wines exclusively from Royal Slope grapes with tasting rooms in Walla Walla, Woodinville, and Ellensburg, plus Gård Public House restaurant in Royal City
• Stoneridge Vineyard: source of Charles Smith's 2006 Royal City Syrah, Washington State's first 100-point wine from Wine Enthusiast; also farmed by Lawrence Vineyards

Royal Slope AVA operates as a sub-appellation of Columbia Valley AVA under federal AVA regulations administered by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau. As with all American viticultural areas, wines labeled Royal Slope AVA must source at least 85 percent of their fruit from within the designated AVA boundaries. The TTB considered but declined to remove Royal Slope from the Columbia Valley AVA, finding that the two share some broad characteristics even while the Royal Slope possesses distinct climate, topography, geology, and soil features. Producers may label wines as Royal Slope AVA or use the broader Columbia Valley designation; following the September 2, 2020 final rule publication, wineries became eligible to submit Certificate of Label Approval requests to the TTB for the Royal Slope AVA designation one month after publication.

• 85 percent fruit sourcing requirement within AVA boundaries for Royal Slope AVA label use, consistent with standard federal AVA regulations
• Sub-appellation status within Columbia Valley AVA; TTB declined to remove Royal Slope from Columbia Valley despite its distinct features
• Final rule published September 2, 2020; effective October 2, 2020; wineries eligible to use the Royal Slope AVA appellation on labels from October 2020 onward
• Distinguishing features per TTB ruling: climate, topography, geology, and soils; particularly differentiated from Wahluke Slope by Aridisol vs. Entisol soil types and higher average elevation

Royal Slope AVA sits roughly halfway between Seattle and Spokane in central Washington, approximately two and a half hours from Seattle. The only town within the AVA boundaries is Royal City, which hosts the Gård Public House restaurant and inn operated by Gård Vintners. The agricultural heritage of the region extends well beyond wine grapes; the area is also a substantial producer of apples, cherries, potatoes, melons, and other row crops, reflecting the broad bounty made possible by Columbia Basin irrigation. Beyond Gård Vintners' tasting facilities, most vineyard visits operate by appointment, making the region ideal for serious wine professionals and students seeking direct engagement with growers. Novelty Hill's Stillwater Creek Vineyard estate and the Lawrence family's network of named vineyard sites provide compelling terroir-focused experiences for those who make the journey.

• Royal City is the only incorporated town within the AVA; Gård Vintners operates Gård Public House restaurant and inn there, along with tasting rooms in Walla Walla, Woodinville, and Ellensburg
• Located approximately two and a half hours from Seattle, halfway between Seattle and Spokane; compelling destination for wine professionals and certification students exploring emerging Washington terroir
• Agricultural heritage combines wine grapes with tree fruit, row crops, and hay; the same irrigation infrastructure from Grand Coulee Dam that enabled grape growing underpins the region's broader farming identity