The following was published in the December 31st issue of Wine Enthusiast.

One of the hallmarks of Washington wine is consistency.

Part of the state’s recipe for success is ever-warm summers in the Columbia Valley, where grapes always ripen. The desert-dry conditions also mean irrigation is required, giving growers control over the timing and amount of water vines receive. Combined with cool nights that retain acidity, these factors have led to quality so consistently high some have questioned whether Washington truly has vintage variation.

Though the answer has always been yes, the qualitative range from year to year is surely narrower than many other viticultural regions. Recent years, however, have shown more readily apparent differences across vintages, as growers and vintners grapple with a rapidly changing climate.

Quality has remained high throughout, but contrasts in style can be sharp, as shown in two recent years, 2018 and 2019.

Read the full story here.