Naches Heights AVA

Naches Heights is an American Viticultural Area (AVA) in Yakima County, Washington. The AVA was recognized officially by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau {TTB), Treasury on January 13, 2012 after reviewing the petition submitted by R. Paul Beveridge, owner of Wilridge Winery and Vineyard, to establish the viticultural area named "Naches Heights." The AVA is located entirely within the vast Columbia Valley AVA with the city of Yakima to the southeast in a valley at a lower elevation. The Naches Heights appellation encompasses 13254 acre and contains 105 acre of commercial vineyards either producing or expecting to produce wine grapes in the foreseeable future. Additionally, it is the first AVA in Washington state to be fully sustainable, with all 7 vineyards practicing in either biodynamic or LIVE (Low Input Viticulture and Enology) certification. At the recognition date, only 37.2 acre were under vine, making the AVA the smallest planted wine region in Washington.

Name
The "Naches Heights" name applies to an elevated plateau area in Yakima County, Washington, according to the petition and USGS maps. The USGS topographical maps of Naches, Selah, Yakima West, and Wiley City are used in the written boundary description in the petition to define the boundary of the viticultural area. The area between the Naches River and Cowiche Creek is identified as "Naches Heights" on the USGS maps as well as on a public lands map (Yakima Public Lands Quadrangle map, 2001, Washington State Department of Natural Resources), according to the petition.

Geography and Climate
Naches Heights is a plateau, ranging from 1200 ft to 2100 ft. The soil is primarily volcanic loess. It is west of the city of Yakima. Grapes in this area must be irrigated.

Vineyards
The appellation's vineyards include Wilridge Vineyard, Naches Heights Vineyard, Strand Vineyard, Treveri Vineyard, Keller Vineyard, and Kalkruth Vineyard. Wilridge Vineyard is owned by Wilridge Winery of Seattle with 14 acre currently cultivated. Naches Heights Vineyards was the first vineyard in this area. Wilridge Winery established the first winery and the first tasting room in the area. In 2017, Wilridge established the first distillery in the AVA.

Grape varieties grown in Naches Heights AVA
The grape varieties currently grown in this AVA include:
 * Five red Bordeaux varieties; Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Merlot and Petite Verdot
 * Two white Bordeaux varieties; Semillon and Sauvignon blanc
 * Three Rhone varieties; Syrah, Mourvedre and Viognier
 * Italian varietals; Barbera, Gewurtztraminer, Nebbiolo, Sangiovese, Sagrantino and Pinot grigio
 * One of the Muscat grapes called White Muscat (also known as Muscat Canelli, Moscato, or Muscat de Petite Grains),
 * Four Portuguese varieties; Souzao, Tinta Cao, Touriga Nacional, and Tinta Roriz.