Snipes Mountain AVA

Snipes Mountain holds one of the longest viticultural histories of any Washington wine region. William B. Bridgman, a lawyer and two-time mayor of Sunnyside, planted European wine grapes on Snipes Mountain and Harrison Hill beginning in 1917. In 1934, he opened Upland Winery, the first bonded winery east of the Cascades and the first in Washington to bottle European-style wines. The Newhouse family purchased the Upland Vineyard site in 1972, revived the vineyards, and in 2006 launched Upland Estates Winery to honor Bridgman's legacy. Todd Newhouse, working with WSU soil scientist Joan Davenport, successfully petitioned the TTB for AVA designation, which was granted on January 21, 2009.

• William Bridgman planted wine grapes on Snipes Mountain beginning in 1917, including Semillon, Pinot Noir, and Muscat of Alexandria
• Upland Winery, founded by Bridgman in 1934, was the first bonded winery east of the Cascades
• The Newhouse family purchased the Upland Vineyard in 1972 and has farmed it continuously since
• AVA petition was co-authored by Todd Newhouse and WSU soil scientist Joan Davenport, approved January 21, 2009

Snipes Mountain is geologically less a mountain and more an anticline of the Yakima Fold Belt, a seven-mile-long ridge that rises from the Yakima Valley floor to a peak of 1,290 feet near the town of Outlook. The AVA also includes Harrison Hill, which lies contiguously to the east with similar soils and topography. Located in the Cascade rain shadow, the region receives only about seven inches of precipitation annually, making irrigation essential. Steep north- and south-facing slopes allow cold air to drain to the valley floor, reducing the risk of frost damage that affects lower-lying sites. Research by geologist Kevin Pogue of Whitman College identified the top of Snipes Mountain as one of the warmest sites in the entire Columbia Valley.

• Seven-mile-long anticline ridge, part of the Yakima Fold Belt, with elevations from 750 to 1,290 feet
• Located between Sunnyside and Granger, centered around Outlook, in south-central Washington
• Arid continental climate with approximately 7 inches of annual precipitation; irrigation is required
• Cold air drainage on steep slopes provides natural frost protection for vines

The soils of Snipes Mountain are its most distinctive feature and the primary basis for its AVA designation. Before the Missoula Floods of the last ice age, the ancestral Columbia River flowed through what is now Snipes Mountain, depositing a thick layer of rounded river gravel and cobbles ranging from fist- to melon-sized. The elevated ridge was largely spared from the most violent flood events, preserving this pre-flood geological record. On top of this riverbed substrate lies loess, windblown deposits of sand, clay, and silt. A significant proportion of soils are classified as Aridisols, which are low in organic matter, a characteristic believed to reduce vine vigor and concentrate fruit flavors. In the early 2000s, WSU's Joan Davenport estimated more than 35 distinct soil types across the mountain.

• Ancient Columbia River gravel and cobblestones, fist- to melon-sized, dominate many areas and retain heat after sunset
• Loess over Missoula Flood sediment overlays the Columbia River gravels across most of the AVA
• Soils classified largely as Aridisols, low in organic matter, reducing vine vigor and concentrating flavors
• More than 35 distinct soil types identified across the AVA by WSU soil scientist Joan Davenport

Snipes Mountain grows more than 30 vinifera varieties, with Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon the most widely planted. South-facing slopes with maximum sun exposure are well suited to late-ripening red varieties like Cabernet Sauvignon and Mourvedre, while cooler north-facing aspects support aromatics like Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, and Pinot Gris. Red Bordeaux blends are the most recognized wines from the AVA, led by DeLille Cellars' Harrison Hill bottling, a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc from 1962-planted vines. Grenache and other Rhone varieties have also drawn considerable interest from prominent producers sourcing Snipes Mountain fruit.

• Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon are the most planted varieties in the AVA
• South-facing slopes favor Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Mourvedre; north-facing slopes suit Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, and Pinot Gris
• DeLille Cellars' Harrison Hill is the AVA's most acclaimed wine, a Bordeaux blend from vines planted in 1962
• Grenache and other Rhone varieties are gaining recognition, with producers like Betz Family Winery sourcing fruit from Upland Vineyards

Upland Estates Winery, owned by the Newhouse family and located on Gap Road in Outlook, is the estate winery at the heart of the AVA, farming more than 750 acres of wine grapes and supplying fruit to over 25 Washington wineries. Upland Estates launched its first commercial wines in 2006. Harrison Hill, a five-acre block within the AVA planted to Cabernet Sauvignon in 1962, is farmed by the Newhouses and has been the exclusive source for DeLille Cellars' acclaimed Harrison Hill red blend since the 1994 vintage. The first vintage of the Harrison Hill label was released in 1995. Muscat of Alexandria vines planted by Bridgman in 1917 still produce fruit at Upland Vineyards today.

• Upland Estates Winery (Newhouse family): the only estate winery in the AVA, farming 750-plus acres and supplying 25-plus Washington wineries
• DeLille Cellars: produces the highly regarded Harrison Hill Bordeaux blend from 1962-planted Cabernet Sauvignon vines, first vintage released in 1995
• Betz Family Winery and many boutique Columbia Valley producers source Snipes Mountain fruit, particularly for Grenache and Chardonnay
• Muscat of Alexandria vines dating to 1917 and Cabernet Sauvignon blocks from 1973 remain in active production at Upland Vineyards

Snipes Mountain offers an authentic, low-key wine country experience that contrasts sharply with more commercialized Washington regions. Upland Estates operates a tasting room by appointment at 6141 Gap Road in Outlook, with access to the vineyards that span the mountain's slopes. The AVA is located approximately 20 minutes from Yakima and is easily accessible via Interstate 82. Because the vast majority of Snipes Mountain fruit is vinified by wineries based elsewhere in Washington, wine lovers can also encounter the AVA's terroir through tastings in Yakima, Woodinville, and other wine destinations across the state.

• Upland Estates tasting room at 6141 Gap Road, Outlook, WA; appointment recommended
• Located approximately 20 minutes southeast of Yakima via Interstate 82, between the towns of Sunnyside and Granger
• Many Washington wineries outside the AVA, from Woodinville to Walla Walla, produce Snipes Mountain-designated wines
• The mountain's cobblestone-covered slopes and panoramic valley views make for a compelling vineyard visit