Washington
Washington State for food and wine lovers: Walla Walla Valley tastings from 20 to 40 dollars, refunded with a purchase, and the free Bite of Seattle in July.
At a glance
- Most of the state’s vineyards grow east of the Cascades, in a dry, sunny climate
- The Walla Walla Valley, in the south-east, with tastings from 20 to 40 dollars
- Tasting fees at four Walla Walla wineries are waived or refunded with a purchase
- Seattle, the largest city, for seafood and Pike Place Market
- 1food festival
- 1culinary experience
Food festivals in Washington
Randy Stern, CC BY
Culinary experiences in Washington
Generalissima, CC BYCities and towns in Washington
Daniel Schwen, CC BY-SA
Williamborg, Public domainMap of Washington
What to taste in Washington
Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah
Two of the red grapes that made the name of eastern Washington’s vineyards.
Walla Walla sweet onion
A mild onion grown around Walla Walla, harvested in early summer.
Apples
Washington grows more apples than any other American state, in the valleys east of the Cascades.
Pacific salmon and Dungeness crab
The seafood of Puget Sound and the coast, sold in Seattle’s Pike Place Market.
Washington, in the Pacific Northwest, is split by the Cascade Range: Seattle and Puget Sound on the wet western side, and on the dry eastern side the Columbia Valley, where most of the state’s grapes and apples grow.
East of the mountains
- Walla Walla Valley: in the south-east, near the Oregon border.
- Grapes: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah lead among the reds, with Riesling and Chardonnay among the whites.
The Columbia Valley
An appellation since 1984, it covers about 4.5 million hectares and holds more than 99% of the state’s vinifera vineyards. Almost every Washington wine region sits inside it as a sub-appellation. Puget Sound, the Columbia Gorge and the Lewis-Clark Valley are the exceptions.
- Rain: 150 to 200 mm a year (6 to 8 inches), in the rain shadow of the Cascades.
- Soils: loess over gravel and slackwater sediment, on basalt, left by the Missoula Floods more than 15,000 years ago.
- Yakima Valley: an appellation since 1983, the first federally recognised wine region of the Pacific Northwest, with almost a third of the state’s planted vines.
Washington wine in figures
| Figure | Washington State Wine Commission, August 2026 |
|---|---|
| Licensed wineries | 985 |
| Wine grape growers | 300 |
| Vineyards | more than 35,000 acres (about 14,000 hectares) |
| Appellations (AVAs) | 22 |
| Annual production | more than 9 million cases |
| Rank among US states | 2nd |
Nine wineries in ten make fewer than 5,000 cases a year. The record harvest, 272,000 tons, came in 2016. The 2025 harvest reached 108,000 tons. In summer the vines get up to 17 hours of daylight, and the gap between day and night temperatures reaches 30 to 40 °F (about 17 to 22 °C).
West of the mountains
- Seattle: the largest city, with Pike Place Market above the waterfront.
- Bite of Seattle: the city’s free food festival at Seattle Center, in July (24 to 26 July in 2026).
Fly into Seattle for the city, but use Walla Walla’s regional airport for the wineries: the two ends of the state are far apart.
Before you go
- Distances: Seattle and Walla Walla are at opposite ends of the state, on either side of the Cascades. Treat them as two trips.
- Arriving: Seattle-Tacoma International Airport is the main gateway. Walla Walla has its own regional airport.
- Alcohol: the minimum legal age to buy alcohol is 21.
- Tasting fees: 20 to 40 dollars per adult in Walla Walla in 2026, given back with a purchase at the four wineries in this guide.
- Getting around: outside Seattle, a car is the practical way, with a driver who skips the tastings.
Frequently asked questions
Where is wine made in Washington State?
Mostly east of the Cascades, in the Columbia Valley and its sub-regions. The Walla Walla Valley, in the south-east, is the one in this guide.
How much is a wine tasting in Walla Walla?
20 to 40 dollars per adult at the four wineries compared in this guide (2026 prices), refunded or waived with a purchase.
Is Walla Walla near Seattle?
No. It is in the far south-east of the state, across the Cascades from Seattle.
What food is Washington known for?
Apples, Pacific salmon, Dungeness crab and oysters, and the Walla Walla sweet onion.