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 Trail Drive Event, which in turn supports our Scholarship Fund.

Our 100 Point Legacy

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

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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: 15,534 (26% of acreage in Washington)
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:  6

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: 11,751 (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: 3,783 (25%)​

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