Federal officials establish 29,387-acre Columbia Hills wine region in Washington

The federal Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau has established the Columbia Hills American viticultural area in Klickitat County, Wash., creating a new federally recognized wine-growing region inside the larger Columbia Valley AVA.

The final rule was published in the Federal Register on Aug. 17 and takes effect Sept. 16. The new Columbia Hills AVA covers 29,387 acres on the southern slopes of the Columbia Hills, a ridgeline that runs along the north side of the Columbia River between Rowena Gap and the mouth of Rock Creek.

TTB said it acted after receiving a petition submitted on behalf of the owner of Cascade Cliffs Vineyard and Winery, which is inside the new area. According to the agency, the proposed region includes about 338 acres of vineyards owned by 19 property owners and 4 wineries.

The bureau establishes AVAs to give vintners a more precise way to describe where grapes are grown and to help consumers identify wines by origin. An AVA is a legally defined grape-growing region whose geography or climate sets it apart from nearby areas. The designation does not amount to a federal endorsement of the quality of wines made there.

In its rule, TTB said the Columbia Hills area stands out for its topography, soils, and climate. The region sits on south-facing stepped terraces and gravel bars formed by ancient flood erosion. The petition described those landforms as favorable for vineyards in a river valley otherwise marked by steeper slopes.

The soils in the new AVA are mainly well-drained to excessively well-drained and are generally coarser than the loess-based soils common in much of the broader Columbia River basin, according to the agency. TTB said the petition argued that those coarser soils warm more quickly and encourage deeper vine rooting.

Climate was another central factor in the approval. TTB said about 80% of the land in the new AVA lies within 1 mile of the Columbia River, which moderates temperatures near the shoreline. The agency said that influence gives the area warmer growing season conditions than surrounding regions, especially in the early morning.

Average growing season temperatures in the new AVA range from 63.9 degrees to 67.7 degrees Fahrenheit, according to the rule. Average maximum growing season temperatures range from 74.5 degrees to 80.2 degrees, while minimums range from 53 degrees to 55.3 degrees. The frost-free period ranges from 194 to 254 days, and annual growing degree day totals range from 3,091 to 3,588. Average annual rainfall is generally between 10 and 20 inches.

TTB said the petition linked those conditions to the ripening of warmer-climate grape varieties, including Grenache and Mourvedre.

The agency also compared the new AVA with nearby areas to determine whether it is distinct enough for separate recognition while still fitting inside the existing Columbia Valley AVA. To the north, TTB said the land is steeper and higher, with lower growing season temperatures, fewer frost-free days, and smaller heat accumulations. To the east is The Burn of Columbia Valley AVA, which the agency described as flatter, higher in elevation, and less affected by ancient floods. To the west lies the Columbia Gorge AVA, which TTB said has more varied topography and cooler temperatures. South of the new AVA, across lower elevations and north-facing slopes, temperatures are also lower than in Columbia Hills.

After reviewing those comparisons, TTB concluded that Columbia Hills should be recognized as a separate AVA but should remain within the Columbia Valley AVA. The bureau said both areas share broad features, including limited rainfall, growing seasons longer than 150 days, and annual heat accumulations generally above 2,000 growing degree days. But it said Columbia Hills differs from much of the surrounding Columbia Valley because it is not part of a broad basin and instead consists of hillsides and flood-cut terraces in a deeply incised river valley.

The proposal first appeared in a notice of proposed rulemaking published Dec. 5, 2024. The public comment period closed Feb. 3, 2025. TTB said it received five comments. Four supported the proposal, including comments from representatives of V75 Vineyard, who described the area as having distinct geology, wind patterns, and heat accumulation and said the designation could help market local vineyards and wines. Another commenter did not oppose the proposal but asked whether the name “Columbia Hills” might be confused with “Columbia Valley.”

TTB said the petition provided evidence that the area is locally known as Columbia Hills, including through the Columbia Hills Natural Area Preserve and Columbia Hills Historical State Park. The agency said no comments challenged the name evidence.

The new designation also brings labeling consequences for wineries. Under federal rules, a wine generally must contain at least 85% grapes grown in an AVA to use that AVA name as an appellation of origin on the label, along with meeting other regulatory requirements. With the creation of the Columbia Hills AVA, the name “Columbia Hills” now has viticultural significance under federal labeling rules. That means bottlers using the name in a brand, trademark, or other origin reference will have to make sure the wine qualifies.

TTB said bottlers that want to use Columbia Hills as an appellation of origin must obtain a new Certificate of Label Approval, even if an existing approved label already carries another AVA name. The agency told producers not to submit label applications using the new AVA name before Sept. 16, when the rule becomes effective.

The bureau said the new designation will not change the status of the larger Columbia Valley AVA. Wineries making wines from grapes grown within Columbia Hills may use “Columbia Hills,” “Columbia Valley,” or both on labels if the wines meet the requirements for those appellations.

TTB also said the rule is not a significant regulatory action under Executive Order 12866 and will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. The agency said the regulation creates no new reporting or recordkeeping requirements and that any business value from the new AVA will depend on how growers and wineries market the area and how consumers respond.