Sightglass Cabernet Franc - Columbia Valley
Cabernet Franc ranks ninth in tonnage harvested in 2022 at 3,025 tons. This figure is 9% lower than yields from the 2021 vintage and runs counter to the state’s overall 2022 harvest comparison to 2021 of +34%.
Consistent with the economic principles of scarcity and price, Cabernet Franc was the most expensive grape in Washington with an average value of $2,074/ton (a 3.2% increase over ‘21’s price).
The Columbia Valley appellation takes up about 25% of the area of the entire state of Washington and is home to 99% of the wine grapes grown there. What saves this AVA from being meaningless with respect to showcasing the where-ness of the vineyards planted there are the numerous sub-appellations that nest inside the Columbia Valley behemoth like Russian dolls. Famous appellation like Horse Heaven Hills and Yakima Valley and Walla Walla share the larger Columbia Valley. As do Snipes Mountain, and Royal Slope.
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