The Columbia Valley is a vinous melting pot, with over 100 varieties planted. Add one more: Vermentino.

“It’s been popular lately,” says Matías Kúsulas, who as head viticulturalist at Lawrence Vineyards grows fruit for numerous wineries. “Wineries are going after Vermentino.”

Indeed, over the last six years, numerous vineyards in the valley have planted the variety. The region’s earliest offerings are now hitting the shelves.

From the Mediterranean to Washington

Vermentino (pronounced ver-men-TEEN-oh) is best known for its representations in regions of Italy, including Sardinia and Tuscany, as well as France’s Corsica. The grape is a newcomer to the Columbia Valley, however.

Grosgrain, a Walla Walla Valley producer, first planted an acre of Vermentino in 2020 at its vineyard in the southern section of the valley. The winery planted another acre in 2023.

“Vermentino has been one of my personal favorite varieties,” says Grosgrain owner and winemaker Matt Austin. “It was something that excited me.”

Grosgrain’s vineyard is planted on shallow soils above fractured basalt. The site is also windy.

Dick Boushey, Boushey Vineyards by Richard Duval

“Our site is a little later ripening compared to a lot of the valley,” Austin says. “So the Vermentino gets a long, slow development and really hangs onto its acid.”

Grosgrain harvested its first fruit in 2023. The winery has, to date, blended its Vermentino into a wine called Tout Les Temps with Grenache Blanc, Picpoul, and Macabeo.

“I really like what it brings to that blend,” Austin says. “It’s exciting that we’re starting to see momentum for Vermentino in Washington.”

Waiting to plant

Well-known grower Dick Boushey owns vineyards in Yakima Valley and manages sites on Red Mountain. He was long-interested in growing Vermentino. There was just one problem.

“I couldn’t get it,” Boushey says. “There were very few plants available.”

Boushey’s interest came in part from managing Col Solare’s vineyard on Red Mountain, owned by Italy’s Antinori family. Boushey tried their Italian Vermentino as well as offerings from Tablas Creek Vineyard in Paso Robles, California.

“I fell in love with it,” Boushey says. “I thought, well, why can’t we do that here?”

Boushey planted three acres of Vermentino at his eponymous vineyard in 2022. He harvested the first meaningful fruit in 2025.

“It’s still a learning curve on when to pick it,” Boushey says. “But it’s a variety that seems to thrive in the heat and keeps its acidity and brightness.”

Gorman Winery in Maltby, Washington was one of the first to receive Boushey’s fruit. The winery released a 2025 Vermentino under its ‘Leave the Gun, Take the Cannoli’ line that focuses on Italian varieties.

“I’ve been a Vermentino fan for years,” says owner and winemaker Chris Gorman. “I just love the grape.”

Gorman’s initial goals were modest. However, he was impressed with the results.

“We just wanted to make a pure, varietal, simple white wine,” he says. “It actually turned out to be a little less simple than I thought.”

Italian inspiration, Washington expression

Lawrence Vineyards planted Vermentino at its Corfu Crossing Vineyard on the Royal Slope in 2022. There are a little over six acres planted.

Matt Austin, Grosgrain Vineyards by Richard Duval

“It’s a mid to late ripening variety. It has big berries and loose clusters, so it’s not prone to rot,” Kúsulas says. “I think it’s a good fit for Washington, especially for Royal Slope.”

In 2025, Kúsulas made Vermentino from Corfu Crossing at Gård Estate Wines, where he serves as winemaker.

“It’s beautiful,” Kúsulas says. “Aromatic, crisp, good mid-palate sweetness, long.”

Meanwhile, Reali in Walla Walla Valley planted an acre of Vermentino in 2023.

“Our inspiration was our love for Italian wine,” says owner Kristin Reali. “No one could really tell us for sure if it would work because there wasn’t much planted in Washington, but let me tell you, it’s very happy here.”

Reali made its first Vermentino in 2025. It has been a hit.

“It’s our top-selling wine right now,” Reali says. “It’s very bright and crisp, and it’s a really nice time of year to drink it as well.”

Vermentino’s future in Washington remains to be written

There are other Vermentino plantings in the Columbia Valley, including in the Horse Heaven Hills (Wallula Gap Vineyard, 2.25 acres; Coyote Canyon Vineyard, 1.5 acres) and Wahluke Slope (Rosebud Vineyard, 1 acre). Other producers working with the variety include Isenhower, Callan, JM, Martedi, and Echolands, which planted the variety in 2025 (2 acres).

Why the sudden surge in interest? Part of it is the Washington wine industry’s natural inclination to explore. Another part is consumer-driven, with more people interested in white wines and different varieties.

“In general, we’re starting to see people get interested in a wider variety of grapes,” says Austin. Boushey agrees.

“I think people are interested in trying new things,” he says, noting that Vermentino has other natural positives. “It’s a great food wine. It really fits with all kinds of meals.”

There is certainly reason to believe Vermentino will thrive in Washington. The variety has already shown it’s well-suited to warm climates.

Still, acreage remains extremely limited. Only time will tell what Vermentino’s long-term prospects are in the Columbia Valley.

“I don’t know if Washington is going to be the Vermentino capital of America,” Gorman says. “But it’s delicious here.”

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