Welcome to Washington

There are a few ways in which Washington wines are compared to French, and the main reason for these frequent comparisons is that Washington state shares the same latitude as some of France’s most iconic regions. 46° north of the equator, you’ll find Washington sitting parallel to the likes of Burgundy, Rhône and Bordeaux.

This means that Washington and France have similar climates, which is why you’ll find many Bordeaux and Rhône grape varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot Syrah planted here.

In a Washington Merlot, for example, you’ll find fine tannins and a velvety texture that’s reminiscent of a Merlot blend from Bordeaux. While in a Washington Chardonnay or Riesling you’re likely to find high levels of acidity, much like you’d expect from a white wine produced in one of France’s cooler regions.