By Andy Perdue Herald staff writer Red Mountain's vineyards and wineries now have the federal government's seal of approval. On Tuesday, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms declared the area near Benton City an American Viticultural Area, or appellation. That means it's a governmentally recognized wine grape growing region.
Red Mountain is Washington's fifth appellation.
The others are the Columbia, Yakima and Walla Walla valleys and Puget Sound. The smaller Red Mountain, Yakima and Walla Walla appellations are contained within the Columbia Valley, which stretches from around Wapato to Milton-Freewater and crosses the Columbia River into Oregon. Red Mountain is Washington's smallest appellation in total area, with about 3,600 acres, of which 600 acres are planted to vineyards. Seven wineries and at least five additional vineyards are in the appellation. The wineries are Hedges Cellars, Kiona Vineyards Winery, Seth Ryan Winery, Blackwood Canyon Vintners, Oakwood Cellars, Terra Blanca Vintners and Sandhill Winery.