Yakima Valley’s Rattlesnake Hills AVA is producing exceptional grapes – and wine

Three winemakers share their experience and knowledge growing grapes and making wine

YAKIMA — Across the Rattlesnake Hills American Viticultural Area near Zillah, vineyard owners were preparing for what many expect to be another strong vintage. From multi-generational farming operations to small family-run wineries, the region’s unique native soil and high elevation continue to produce some of Washington’s most distinct wines. The Rattlesnake Hills AVA sits above much of the landscape shaped by the ancient Missoula Floods. Unlike many nearby regions, the hills escaped the floods, preserving older soils that today contribute to much of the area’s exceptional growing conditions. Elevations ranging from roughly 850 to 1,500 feet create cooler temperatures and growing