ABOUT US & STATS

The Horse Heaven Hills Wine Growers is a non-profit corporation made up of grape growers, wineries & tasting rooms in this American Viticultural Area, established 2005. 

Together we work to share the fruits of our labor with the wine-loving world.  Our goal is to inform, educate and promote the significance of our rich soils, constant breezes, sun-soaked days and cool nights.  This bountiful terroir with its south-sloping benches and our sound viticultural techniques produce some of the state's most sought-after grapes and elegant, exciting wines --  along the vast Columbia River.

Our efforts are supported by grower and winery-backed fundraising through our annual Scholarship Event, which in turn supports our Scholarship Fund.

Our 100 Point Legacy

Horse Heaven Hills is proud of our part in the six  100-point wines of Washington
from 2002, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2014 and 2018

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HORSE HEAVEN HILLS STATS

AVA & Climate
Official AVA Status:  August 1, 2005

Land Size: 50 miles long by 20 miles deep
Elevation: 300 to 1800 feet
Terroir:  Series of South sloping benches along the Columbia River
North Border: Columbia Valley and Yakima AVAs
South Border: Columbia River

Total Acreage: 570,000
Planted Acreage: Approx 17,000 (27% of acreage in Washington State)
Oldest Block: 1972 planted by Don & Linda Mercer
History:  Cowboy James Kinney named this area in 1857 after discovering his herd of horses eating the native grasses on the hillside.  Proclaiming this is "Horse Heaven"

Number of Vineyards: 31
Number of Wineries & Tasting Rooms:  5

Heat Units: average 3000 annually
Rain: 6 to 9 inches, primarily in winter months.  Drip, micro sprinklers and overhead irrigation is used giving viticulturalist control of the vines growth.
Wind: 30% more than other regions. We welcome the constant breeze that helps protect our vines from insects and disease.

Red Varieties

Total # Planted: 25                                 
Total Acreage: 12,000 (75%)​

Top 5:  Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, Cabernet Franc & Malbec
Additional: Barbera, Carignane, Carmenere, Cinsault, Counoise, Dolcetto, Graciano, Grenache, Lemberger, Marquette, Mourvedre, Nebbiolo, Petit Syrah, Petit Verdot, Pinot Noir, Sangiovese, Tempranillo, Zinfandel

White Varieties

Total # Planted: 13                                
Total Acreage: 5,000 (25%)​

Top 5: Chardonnay, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris & Chenin Blanc
Additional:  Albarino, Gewurtztraminer, Marsanne, Muscat Canelli, Orange Muscat, Roussanne, Semillon, Viognier