Horse Heaven Hills is an AVA in the Columbia Valley wine region that has a history of producing some really good wines. Two of the largest wineries in the US are located here. Columbia Crest Winery is well known but the second largest winery in the US, Chateau Ste. Michelle, has a tasting room here as part of its red wine production facility on Canoe Ridge Estate.
The vintner at Columbia Crest told us they can put out 100 cases an hour at this facility and they have three lines running five days a week. If they get behind they add another day and they are considering adding a fourth line. We tasted some nice cabernet sauvignon and will have a case delivered when it gets cooler. They also produce some nice merlot and syrah.
We drove past Chateau Ste. Michelle twice before figuring out how to get up the steep hill to the tasting room. It was a small room and not very busy on this Sunday morning. One other couple were tasting at the same time we were. They were celebrating their 40th anniversary and trying to find a wine they could lay down for the next 10 years to open on their 50th. Not a bad idea. After picking our favorites, a syrah and a cab, we ate lunch on their patio overlooking the Columbia River.
This whole area is considered high desert and only receives 8 inches of rain a year. One wouldn't think that would be good for growing grapes, apples, peaches, cherries, corn, and other grains but the Columbia, Yakima and Snake Rivers all converge here and provide enough water to irrigate thousands of acres of land. The contrast between the desert hills and the lush green valleys is striking.
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