Issue link: http://winesandvines.uberflip.com/i/131907
COVE R S T O R Y doesn't get rid of that morning cold effect." 5,000 The length of the 3,000 growing season in a 2,000 1,500 vineyard affected by 1,250 the pool of cold air and 1,000 in unaffected vineyards 750 can differ by as much 500 as a month. Les Collines vineyard in the Feet above sea level foothills of the Blue Mountains, for example, racked up 3,256 GDD in 2012 at an elevation of 1,358 feet; but Pepper Bridge, at 784 feet, had just 2,663 GDD. Both are in the Walla Walla AVA. Stone Similarly, the warmClifton Tree est growing areas North Ridge Pogue tracked have Columbia Yakima River no impediments to the drainage of cool air. Air cold creek Snake temperatures are conRiver Upland Klipsun sistently warmer during Richland the growing season, Walla force Yakima Walla thanks in part to the majeure Wallula River moderating effect of the Benches Les Alder Columbia River, which Pepper Collines Ridge bridge releases heat during the McNary cool nights. Dam Areas such as the Columbia south side of the Horse River Heaven Hills consequently racked up some of the longest growing seasons in the state. The longest was seen at Kevin Pogue of Whitman College created this topographic map using data he collected between 2010 and 2012. a block on the Wallula Benches, at a very low elevation where the Colum"I was shocked," Pogue says. "It highlighted by the frost damage in Nobia River forms Lake Wallula behind the had this incredible nine-month frostvember 2010, when some areas were hit McNary dam. It racked up 265 frost-free free period." with temperatures as low as 0ºF. Under days in 2012 between the end of February But on the back side of the valley, away normal circumstances, conditions were and December. from the river, it's a different story—as right for a steady senescence and hardening off of the vines, but the sudden frost was too much, too soon. Vineyard Growing Degree Days Vs. Elevation "It wasn't absolutely that cold, but it Vineyard 2012 GDD Elevation (feet) AVA was too early," Markus Keller, a professor of viticulture at Washington State Stone Tree 3,681 1,276 Wahluke Slope University's Irrigated Agriculture ReUpland 3,588 1,001 Snipes Mountain search and Extension Center in Prosser, Cold Creek 3,560 1,148 Columbia Valley told Wines & Vines the following spring. Clifton 3,541 597 Wahluke Slope "The vines hadn't fully acclimated yet Force Majeure 3,471 1,096 Red Mountain when it happened." North Ridge 3,328 968 Wahluke Slope But the damage wasn't uniform across Alder Ridge 3,323 400 Horse Heaven Hills the state. Vineyards in the Yakima Valley Wallula Benches 3,309 367 Horse Heaven Hills were largely unscathed while many in the Les Collines 3,256 1,358 Walla Walla Valley Horse Heaven Hills were hit hard. Klipsun 3,137 689 Red Mountain Pogue's research suggests that topogPepper Bridge 2,663 784 Walla Walla Valley raphy may have had something to do Columbia Valley AVA 32 W in es & V i ne s J U NE 2 0 13