Puget Sound AVA

Puget Sound
Wine region
TypeAmerican Viticultural Area
Year established1995[1]
CountryUnited States
Part ofWashington
Other regions in WashingtonColumbia Gorge AVA, Columbia Valley AVA, Ancient Lakes of Columbia Valley AVA, Candy Mountain AVA, Goose Gap AVA, Horse Heaven Hills AVA, Lake Chelan AVA, Naches Heights AVA, Rattlesnake Hills AVA, Red Mountain AVA, Rocky Reach AVA, Royal Slope AVA, Snipes Mountain AVA, The Burn of Columbia Valley AVA, Wahluke Slope AVA, Walla Walla Valley AVA, White Bluffs AVA, Yakima Valley AVA
Growing season1300-2200 GDD[1]
Climate regionRegion I
Precipitation (annual average)17 to 60 in (432–1,524 mm)[1]
Soil conditionsSilty to sandy topsoils over semi-permeable cemented subsoil[1]
Total area8,650 sq mi (5,536,000 acres)
Land: 7,150 sq mi (4,576,000 acres)
Water: 1,500 sq mi (3,885 km2)[1]
Size of planted vineyards80 acres (32 ha)[2]
No. of vineyards13[3]
Grapes producedChasselas, Dornfelder, GaranoirMadeleine Angevine, Madeleine Sylvaner, Müller-Thurgau, Pinot gris, Pinot noir, Regent, Siegerrebe, St. Laurent, Syrah, Zweigelt[2][4]
No. of wineries125[2]
Wine producedVarietal, Sparkling wine, Dessert wine[2]

Puget Sound is an American Viticultural Area (AVA) in northwest portion of Washington state encompassing Clallam, Island, Jefferson, King, Kitsap, Mason, Pierce, San Juan, Skagit, Snohomish, Thurston and Whatcom Counties. It is the only Washington AVA located west of the Cascade Mountains.

Puget Sound (or the "Sound") is an inlet of the Pacific Ocean extending about 190 mi (306 km) south from Admiralty Inlet and Juan de Fuca Strait to Olympia. It contains 13,100 sq mi (8,384,000 acres) of land, 150 sq mi (388 km2) of fresh water, and 2,500 sq mi (6,475 km2) of saltwater. The viticultural area lies entirely within the land basin surrounding the Sound.[1][5][6]

The Puget Sound viticultural area contains approximately 55% of the watershed's land area and water or 7,150 sq mi (4,576,000 acres) of land and 1,500 sq mi (3,885 km2) of water for a total area of 8,650 sq mi (5,536,000 acres). It has a maximum length of 190 mi (306 km) from north to south and 60 mi (97 km) from east to west, although it is most often less than 45 mi (72 km) wide.[7]

The AVA was established by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), Treasury on October 4, 1995 after reviewing a petition submitted by Gerard and Jo Ann Bentryn of Bainbridge Island Vineyards & Winery in Bainbridge Island, Washington, proposing a new viticultural area within the State of Washington to be known as "Puget Sound."[1]

The region is almost entirely within hardiness zone 9a.

  1. ^ a b c d e f g "Puget Sound Viticultural Area (94F-019P)" (27 CFR 9 [TD ATF-368 Re: Notice No. 812] RIN: 1512-AA07 Final Rule). Federal Register. 60 (192). Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), Treasury: 51896–51900. October 5, 1995. Archived (PDF) from the original on April 18, 2023.Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  2. ^ a b c d "Puget Sound (AVA): Appellation Profle". Appellation America. 2008. Archived from the original on December 2, 2023. Retrieved April 24, 2024.
  3. ^ "Puget Sound Wine Growers" (Map). Puget Sound Wine Growers Association.
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference Moulton was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Parker, Tom (September 1, 2002). Discovering Washington Wines: An Introduction to One of the Most Exciting Premium Wine Regions. Seattle, Wash: Raconteurs Press. p. 30. ISBN 0-9719258-5-2.
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference PSWGA was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ Parker 2002, p. 49