Syrah (Eastern Washington)

The eastern part of the State of Washington has what might be called interesting weather. But, it sets up perfectly to grow certain wine grapes, Syrah among them. Winters are cold and often snowy. Summers are warm, often hot, during the days, but cool at night, with almost no rain and lots of days with seemingly endless sunshine. Add to that that most of the land is undulating and sloped and it sets up perfectly for Syrah.

Syrah loves the sun -- lots of it. It is hearty enough to live through the sometimes rough winters here, but to also withstand the heat that often makes it to 40C/104F for a few days during the summer. It thrives on the 20-25C/36-45F temperature drops at night. And, it hates rain during growing season. All a grower needs is to find a south-facing slope to plant on and everything is perfect to grow Syrah.

What do we mean when we say Eastern Washington? After all, you'll never find a label saying Eastern Washington American Viticultural Area (AVA). Essentially, it's composed of five AVAs and with any luck as I am typing, I can remember all of them:

  • Horse Heaven Hills
  • Red Mountain
  • Yakima
  • Wahluke Slope
  • Walla Walla
Here's a little hint for you. If you are a Syrah drinker not looking to spend a fortune and you are at a restaurant and you see one of those five AVAs on the label, there is an awfully good chance you are getting a good wine and an excellent value (there are some exceptions as some have been priced off the charts). Of the bunch, Yakima and Wahluke Slope tend to be the least expensive while Walla Walla will send you out looking for a side job the fastest.

What makes these wines so interesting?

Unlike many of the great wines of the northern Rhone, they are very approachable when young. Loaded with spice, black pepper, and dark berries and complemented by plentiful, yet soft tannins, the Syrah from eastern Washington is food friendly while high in alcohol. Watch out for the alcoholic content during a particularly warm and dry growing season with a later harvest as the ABV starts to get near 16%.

Pair your Syrah from eastern Washington with rich foods. Beef, duck, lamb, and wild game do well. But, for those who'd like to keep their meat levels low, most Syrah from this area pairs exceptionally well with earthy and root vegetables such as mushrooms, roasted parsnips, or yellow squashes, as well as some aged hard cheeses.


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