East of the Cascade mountains lies the sunny and parched side of the state where the days are warm and the nights are cool--near perfect conditions for creating "balanced" wines.
One of the most recently established appellations, Wahluke Slope is situated on a south-facing plateau in the center of the Columbia Valley where the south-racing Columbia River suddenly makes a quick dip back to the north before bending back again to the south. The warm Wahluke Slope appellation favors Merlot, Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon among the reds; Riesling, Chardonnay and Chenin Blanc among the whites. This appellation is one of the warmest in Washington.