Appellation · United States
Horse Heaven Hills
South-facing slopes above the Columbia River, warmed and wind-scoured, and a major source of Washington’s best-known vineyards.
Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot with ripe dark fruit, firm acidity and supple tannin — Washington’s most consistently balanced reds.
About Horse Heaven Hills
The Horse Heaven Hills run along the north bank of the Columbia River, sloping south towards the water.
Proximity to the river moderates winter temperatures, which matters in a state where vine-killing freezes are a real risk, and constant wind keeps disease pressure minimal.
Champoux and Canoe Ridge, two of Washington’s most highly regarded vineyards, are here.
What the name means
- Legal name
- Horse Heaven Hills AVA
- Type
- American Viticultural Area (AVA)
- Set by
- Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB)
- Recognised
- 2005
- Regulates
- Origin only. It sets no rules about varieties, yields, ageing or winemaking.
Only where the grapes were grown, plus the percentage that must come from the named area. An AVA sets no varietal, yield, ageing or winemaking rules whatsoever — the single most commonly misunderstood fact about US wine labels.
Grapes
Wines from here
What to eat, and how to serve it
Derived from this region’s signature styles. Each is listed separately, because a region does not have one serving temperature.
Washington Cabernet Sauvignon
Serve at 16–18°C (cool room temperature).
Try with roast chicken, fillet steak or grilled chicken.
Where to go next
Places worth trying if you like this one — neighbours, rivals, and the obvious step across.
- Yakima Valley — Washington’s first AVA and its largest planted area, containing several more specific sub-appellations.
- Columbia Valley — The vast, arid AVA covering most of Washington State’s vineyards, east of the Cascade rain shadow.
Sources
Sources consulted
- American Viticultural Areas (AVAs) — Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB), US Department of the Treasury
- Washington State Wine Commission — Washington State Wine Commission