Page 46 - GV2020 Portfolio Master

COLUMBIA VALLEY
The Columbia Valley AVA is Washington’s all-encompassing region with some 11

million acres of land in all, with over 59,000 acres planted to vines. The Columbia Valley is home
to over 99% of all of Washington’s vinifera acreage. Included within its confines are 11 other

American Viticultural Areas (AVA) including Red Mountain, Yakima and Walla Walla Valleys,
Wahluke Slope, Rattlesnake Hills, Horse Heaven Hills, Snipes Mountain, Lake Chelan, Naches
Heights and Ancient Lakes. The Lewis-Clark Valley, Columbia Gorge and Puget Sound AVAs
are the only appellations in Washington that fall outside of its borders. The most significant
Betz Family places where the Columbia Valley is the primary appellation and does not overlap another AVA
Founded in 1997 by Bob & Cathy are the Royal Slope, the Columbia Basin, and the vast expanse north of the Rattlesnake Hills,
Betz. Today, Betz family Winery is which includes the entire region loosely called Columbia Cascade.
headed by two families, both Apart from its sheer size, the Columbia valley is also widely seen on wine labels
committed to be true to our because many of Washington’s best known wineries are located in the Seattle metropolitan area.
heritage, our family members, and
true to what Betz winery These wineries transport grapes over from Eastern Washington to make their wines. The wines
embodies: wines of dimension and are invariably a blend of grapes sourced from various locales, and as a consequence are labeled
pleasure, wines that allow the using the large Columbia Valley AVA.
character of Washington to shine
through. They are a blend of the The Columbia Valley AVA is geographically defined by mountain ranges which border
best elements of the new and the it on the west and north, and by the Columbia River on the south until it turns north at the
old worlds; full ripe fruit and yet Wallula Gap. Here the appellation continues east, following the state line and then dipping down
structured for longevity. into Oregon to include the southern part of the Walla Walla Valley AVA. The Columbia
Valley’s eastern border is loosely defined by the land surrounding the Columbia River as it jogs
Kin & Cascadia north, and the Snake River as it runs east.
The Sager & Master Family are
now in a second generation Any AVA this large will incorporate significant differences in rainfall, soils and climate,
partnership and perpetual search but in general the Columbia Valley may be characterized by the fact that it encompasses the
to produce wines in the world’s Eastern Washington desert. This area receives only 6-8 inches of annual rainfall, thus virtually all
best regions. This story is decades
in the making, starting as industry Columbia Valley vineyard land is irrigated.
acquaintances turned partners
and lifelong friends. Kin &
Cascadia is the story of two
families working together making Betz Family (Redmond) betzfamilywinery.com
great wines in the Pacific
Northwest. (also see Yakima Valley & Red Mountain)
Betz Bésoleil Rhone Blend, Columbia Valley 2017 $467.90 93 JS
SIXTO Betz Clos de Betz Bordeaux Blend, Columbia Valley 2016 $515.90 95 JS, 94+WA
SIXTO, the Chardonnay-only Betz Père de Famille Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley 2016 $731.90 95 JS, 95WA
label from Charles Smith and
Brennon Leighton. Inspired by Betz Possibility Red Blend, Columbia Valley 2016 $335.90 92 JS
the story of musician Sixto
Rodriguez (featured in the
acclaimed documentary
"Searching for Sugar Man"), Kin & Cascadia winesellersltd.com
Charles similarly wanted to
resurrect something that was (also see Willamette Valley OR)
always great, but was waiting to Kin & Cascadia Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley 2017 $131.90
be rediscovered - as in the old
Chardonnay vines in Washington
State.

Substance SIXTO winesofsubstance.com
The original thought was to be a (also see Washington State)
one wine brand, with a single SIXTO Moxee Chardonnay, Columbia Valley 2015 $420.00 93 WA
minded vision to produce the best SIXTO Roza Hills Chardonnay, Columbia Valley 2014 $420.00 92 JS
value-priced Cabernet Sauvignon
in America. How do you go about
this? Traditional winemaking,
natural fermentations, barrel-
aging, bottling unfiltered and Substance winesofsubstance.com
unfined. In essence, making the (also see Columbia Valley & Wahluke Slope)
wines in small batch winemaking
integrity, but doing so on a larger Substance Chardonnay, Columbia Valley 2018 $192.00
scale. The wine is black. The label
definitively says, "This is Substance Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley 2018 $192.00
Cabernet Sauvignon."
Substance VC Stoneridge Merlot, Columbia Valley 2016 $347.90
Substance VC Stoneridge Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley 2016 $432.00 90WS

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