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for grapevine growth.) accumulations and an average cool-climate viticulture sustainability index (The cool-climate viticulture sustainability index represents the number of days between the last temperature below 29 °F (−2 °C) in the spring and the first temperature below 29 °F (−2 °C) in the fall) number than all of the surrounding regions except the regions to the south and north. The AVA also has a lower risk of vine-damaging freezes, as it generally has fewer days per year with temperatures below 32 °F (0 °C) than all of the surrounding regions except the region to the south. Finally, the AVA has an average of only 9 days a year with temperatures above 95 °F (35 °C), which is fewer than the region to the south, and has fewer very hot days per year than the regions to the north, east, and west. Grape vines shut down photosynthesis at temperatures above 95 °F (35 °C), which can slow or even stop the synthesis of sugars and other ripening factors and may delay harvest.
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dunes and ‘‘pothole’’ lakes. Within the AVA, the soils are a combination of sediments from glacial floods and wind-blown post-glacial sand and silt (loess). The soils are generally deep enough for vines to extend their roots far into the soil before encountering bedrock or other impediments. The predominant soils are
Aridosols, which are characterized as well-drained and low in organic material. Major soil series include Warden, Sagemoore, Adkins, and Kennewick, which together comprise approximately 59 percent of the soil in the AVA. By contrast, the regions to the east, west, and immediate south of the AVA are scablands, which have very little, if any, topsoil. Farther south of the AVA, within the established
388:. Within the region of the AVA, the floodwaters followed flood channels to the east and northeast. The waters entered the region in a relatively smooth fashion, and the AVA remained largely above the floodwaters. As a result, the AVA was not heavily eroded and remained a landscape of gentle hills with deep soils suitable for cultivation. By contrast, the regions to the east and south of the AVA were eroded by fast-moving floodwaters which cut deeply into the landscape and formed the
325:. Slope angles are generally less than 15 percent, with very few slopes having angles of less than 3 percent. The slopes are gentle enough for agricultural purposes and are not as freeze-prone as flatter terrains such as valley floors. To the north of the AVA, the Frenchman Hills fall away to the Quincy Basin, which is a large, flat-floored valley. To the northeast are sand dunes and "pothole" ponds between the dune crests. To the east and south of the AVA is the
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of Crab Creek Coulee. Similarly strong floodwaters flowed through the region to the west of the AVA, creating the steep canyon of the
Columbia River. North of the AVA, the floodwaters were smoother and gentler and deposited vast amounts of sand in what is now the Quincy Basin, creating a landscape of
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climate classification system, annual heat accumulation during the growing season, measured in annual growing degree days (GDDs), defines climatic regions. One GDD accumulates for each degree
Fahrenheit that a day's mean temperature is above 50 °F (10 °C), the minimum temperature required
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on
October 2, 2020, after reviewing the petition submitted by Alan Busacca, a licensed geologist and founder of Vinitas Vineyard Consultants, LLC, on behalf of the Royal Slope Wine Grower's Association, proposing the viticultural area named “Royal Slope.” The AVA lies between the
397:, the soils are deep and fertile but are primarily Entisols, including the Quincy soil series, which comprise less than two percent of the soils in the AVA. The region to the north of the AVA is also primarily composed of Entisols, including the Quincy soil series.
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According to local lore, the name originated when two
Scotsmen climbed the Saddle Mountains in the 1880s and observed the view to the north of the south-sloped topography and exclaimed, “Now that’s a Royal Slope!” Historically, the name “Royal Slope” is printed on
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The climate of the Royal Slope AVA is described as warm but not excessively hot, making it a suitable climate for growing a variety of red and white grape varietals, including
Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Syrah, Chardonnay, and Riesling. The AVA generally has greater
291:. There are currently 13 producing commercial vineyards cultivating approximately 14,100 acres (5,706 ha) with only one winery. According to the petition, the distinguishing features of the Royal Slope AVA are its climate, topography, geology, and soils.
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of various scales since the 1950s to mark the general area. The name has been in common usage for more than 50 years to describe the rich agricultural district of tree fruit orchards, row and field crops and since the 1980s, viticulture.
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The topography of the Royal Slope AVA is characterized by the gentle, south-facing slopes of an east–west trending 30 mi (48 km) range of hills called the
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industry. The region gained industry recognition when a
Charles Smith 2006 Royal City Syrah was rated 100 points by
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The Royal Slope AVA, like the rest of the
Columbia Valley AVA, is underlain with
585:"Royal Slope Designated as Washington State's Newest American Viticultural Area"
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encompassing 156,389 acres (244 sq mi) entirely within the vast
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state. Royal Slope is the state's 15th appellation recognized by the
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This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the
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615:"Charles Smith 2006 Royal City Syrah (Columbia Valley (WA))"
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as the first vintage in the state to rank that high.
649:(A source of treasure for wineries around the state)
462:"Establishment of the Royal Slope Viticultural Area"
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Royal Slope AVA has the potential, situated between
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729:American Viticultural Areas of Washington (state)
479:Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB)
268:Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB)
177:Surface loess, sand, and flood-deposited silt
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554:"The Ultimate Guide to the Royal Slope AVA"
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744:2020 establishments in Washington (state)
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530:from the original on December 10, 2023
169:8 to 10 in (203–254 mm)
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739:Geography of Grant County, Washington
734:Geography of Adams County, Washington
644:Steigmeyer, Rick (November 4, 2021).
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595:from the original on August 14, 2022
492:from the original on April 17, 2023.
465:(27 CFR 9 RIN 1513–AC53 Final Rule)
104:Ancient Lakes of Columbia Valley AVA
16:Viticultural area in Washington, USA
659:from the original on April 21, 2024
625:from the original on April 21, 2024
185:156,389 acres (244 sq mi)
655:. Wenatchee, WA: Wenatchee World.
564:from the original on June 18, 2021
485:: 54491–54494. September 2, 2020.
413:and about two and half hours from
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583:Garrison, Becky (June 18, 2021).
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252:American Viticultural Area (AVA)
144:The Burn of Columbia Valley AVA
552:James, Erin (April 28, 2021).
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166:Precipitation (annual average)
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193:14,100 acres (5,706 ha)
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49:American Viticultural Area
381:and has been affected by
190:Size of planted vineyards
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283:surrounding the town of
152:Walla Walla Valley AVA
116:Horse Heaven Hills AVA
63:Years of wine industry
340:due to the northerly
128:Rattlesnake Hills AVA
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289:Columbia Valley AVA
140:Snipes Mountain AVA
99:Columbia Valley AVA
87:Columbia Valley AVA
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705:46.965°N 119.650°W
653:Foothills Magazine
589:Grapevine Magazine
355:growing degree day
264:central Washington
120:Naches Heights AVA
108:Candy Mountain AVA
646:"Royal Slope AVA"
395:Wahluke Slope AVA
338:Pacific Northwest
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160:Yakima Valley AVA
148:Wahluke Slope AVA
93:Other regions in
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305:topographic maps
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156:White Bluffs AVA
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55:Year established
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254:located within
209:Grapes produced
174:Soil conditions
136:Rocky Reach AVA
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277:Quincy Basin
262:Counties in
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201:of vineyards
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696:119°39′00″W
682:TTB AVA Map
248:Royal Slope
238:of wineries
29:Wine region
22:Royal Slope
723:Categories
693:46°57′54″N
429:References
419:enotourism
411:Tri Cities
386:megafloods
327:Crab Creek
317:Topography
285:Royal City
217:Chardonnay
182:Total area
95:Washington
83:Washington
663:April 26,
629:April 20,
599:April 26,
568:April 26,
534:April 26,
407:Wenatchee
390:scablands
657:Archived
623:Archived
593:Archived
562:Archived
525:Archived
487:Archived
483:Treasury
401:Industry
376:basaltic
357:(In the
342:latitude
272:Treasury
225:Riesling
521:WA Wine
477:(171).
415:Seattle
383:Ice Age
379:bedrock
372:Miocene
359:Winkler
348:Climate
312:Terroir
295:History
79:Part of
71:Country
330:Coulee
250:is an
221:Merlot
528:(PDF)
517:(PDF)
490:(PDF)
374:-era
260:Grant
256:Adams
229:Syrah
665:2024
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601:2024
570:2024
536:2024
409:and
366:Soil
302:USGS
279:and
258:and
58:2020
45:Type
236:No.
199:No.
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