WINE: U.S. approves Naches Heights as official viticulture area

The federal government today approved Washington's 12th official viticultural area, Naches Heights.

The new American Viticultural Area, or appellation, is on a volcanic plateau above the city of Yakima. It is within the Columbia Valley AVA.

Naches Heights is 13,254 acres in size. Though with just 105 acres of vines, it is the least-planted AVA in Eastern Washington.

Phil Cline, owner of Naches Heights Vineyard and the first person to grow wine grapes in the AVA, said, "We are pleased that the federal government agrees that Naches Heights is a distinctive place to grow wine grapes. We are also pleased that all of the vine growers on Naches Heights are committed to sustainable viticulture."

Washington's other appellations are:

Columbia Valley
Yakima Valley
Walla Walla Valley
Puget Sound
Red Mountain
Wahluke Slope
Horse Heaven Hills
Rattlesnake Hills
Columbia Gorge
Snipes Mountain
Lake Chelan