general climate of Columbia Valley?
46th parallel, share a fairly uniform, arid continental climate- diurnal shift-hot summers, cold winters
factors for no phylloxera? or fungal disease? in Columbia Valley
severe winters, inhospitable sandy soils, and the great physical distances from one vineyard to the next; and low rainfall
walla walla generally above whaat elevation best?
not really feasible below 850 ft. due to frost pressures
factors that mitigating cold i Washinton?
Elevation and aspect - higher warmer, south side of ridges warmer
Why is wamer at higher elevations in Wash?
ridges pushed up from tectonic movement- constrict airflow and produce a temperature inversion layer as cool air bottlenecks within the syncline basins.
3 main soils of Columbia Valley?
Basalt (volcanic); sedimentary-nutrient rich touchet beds- gravels etc (missoula floods); eolian windblown loess
walla walla just east of confluence of which 3 rivers?
the Columbia, Walla Walla, and Snake Rivers
walla walla climate?
400 to 2000 ft. elevation (below 850 ft. frost issus; rainfall increases as head east towards blue mtns
Main soil of walla walla not hillsides?
arable, fertile soil - good for arid to semi-arid environment; holds water and still free draining -need soil vigor because they are farming a desert!
horse heaven hills climate compared to yakima?
slightly warmer than the western end of Yakima Valley but slightly cooler than Red Mountain. lots of wine funneled inland through the Columbia Gorge; river moderates the extremes of summer highs and winter lows; frost still issue, need altitude
Driest AVA of washington?
Wahluke slope - ironic as it means ‘watering hole’
Wahluke slope surrounded by what features?
Saddle Mountains on the north, the Hanford Ranch National Monument to the east, and the Columbia River on the west and south.
only AVA in Columbia Valley not impacted by the Missoula Floods?
Lake Chelan
Geo factors that affect Columbia Valley climate?
Columbia River: moderates-lower spring temps - pushes back budbreak while extending growing season in fall; reduce autumn frost; WIND from the west -summer- hot interior pulls cool coastal winds inland through gap in Cascades; reduces fungal pressure in otherwise wet climate
Similarities between climate of Cote d’Or & Willamette Valley
both fall into Region I; both 45th parallel; day length similar
Climatic differences between Cote D’Or & Willamette Valley
Côte d’Or season compressed and shorter- budbreak a week later, véraison & harvest typically 5-7 days before. Higher summer temps, temps rise and fall more sharply in the spring and fall (more extremes). Willamette Valley overall wetter but mostly in winter; Burgundy more during growing season- more rot issues; less sunshine hours. Hail- burgundy yes, oregon no
willamette elevation in general due to soil type
need nutrient-depleted soils to restrain vine vigor- plant > 275 ft., above flood-deposited soils and frost-prone valley floor but max 800-900 ft.
four major soil types derived from four different underlying geologies.
volcanic-basalt; uplifted marine sediment; loess; Missoula flood deposit
Willamette Volcanic soils explained? named?
volcanic- Jory/Nekia (more clay than others)
Willamette Uplifted Marine Sediment soils explained? named?
Uplifted marine sediment- nutrient-poor soils from sandstone and shale- former ocean bed, oldest bedrock. ‘Willakenzie’ and ‘Bellarine’- sandier/thinner than volcanic. PN-darker in color and fruit profile.
Willamette loess soils explained? named?
loess -windblown but older than Wash- reddish silt soils predate last ice age, often mixed with basalt & marine sediments rather than more fertile flood sediments ‘ Laurelwood’ Cornelius’ ‘Cascade’
Willamette Missoula Flood Deposit soils explained? named?
Missoula Flood Deposits: low-lying, deep, fertile soils-valley floor-best for other forms of agriculture. ‘Woodburn’
willamette pn more commonly destemmed but who whole cluster?
Cristom, White Rose, other?
Dundee soils and elevation- factors of elevation
Volcanic - Jory; elevation limits frost exposure, provides better air drainage to shield against botrytis, and above floor’s vigorous flood-borne soils
