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MAY NEWS Red Mountain Vineyard Plantings Increase Kennewick Irrigation District expansion holds promise for future B enton City, Wash.—Washington's Red Mountain appella- tion is a hot spot for new vineyard plantings. The Ameri- can Viticultural Area, one of Washington's best known, has numerous vineyards being planted and planned. At present, about 1,500 acres are planted in the 4,040-acre AVA near Benton City, with about 100 acres being planted this year and around 100 acres next year, according to Jim Holmes from Ciel Du Cheval Vineyard. Most people wouldn't call the area a mountain, more like a large hill with elevations from 500 feet to 1,400 feet. The gently sloping, southwestern-facing site also includes flat land near the Yakima River. The sides of the small peak on the north are too steep for most vineyards. The site is the warmest in the area and receives the longest daily sunlight in the Yakima Valley—about 2 hours more than Napa, Calif. It also has very cool nights, which help maintain acidity in the grapes grown there. Almost all the vines planted are red grapes, and the fruit is consistently among the most expensive in the state. The red color in the name comes from the dark red springtime hue of red mountain appears more like a large hill, with elevations from 500 feet to 1,400 feet. the drooping brome or "cheatgrass" in the area. The AVA con- tains only a few wineries. The Ste. Michelle-Antinori joint venture Col Solare dominates the landscape with its Tuscan-inspired bell tower. Hedges Family Vineyards also has a large winery in the area, as do a number of smaller operations. Most of the AVA's fruit goes to premium wineries around the state. As the area gets only about 5 inches of water per year, irrigation is vital, and water rights are valuable. Water is supplied by wells and the Yakima River, but is carefully con- trolled. When more water becomes available from the Kennewick Irrigation District, as is expected in a few years, another 500 acres in the appellation will be available to plant. winesandvines.com Learn more: Search keywords "Red Mountain." —Paul Franson 26 Wines & Vines MAY 2012