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Fort Vancouver/Columbia Plaines |
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First Vines...Clark County, Washington has a long history of grapegrowing, dating back to Fort Vancouver and the Hudson's Bay Company. The first European wine grapes(Vitis Vinifera) in the Pacific Northwest were planted at Fort Vancouver somewhere between 1825 and 1828. The Chief Factor's (John McLoughlin's) house was covered with grape vines, as is the replica of the house at Fort Vancouver today. (See 1860 photo below.) Jedediah Smith reported seeing small apple trees and vines at the Fort in 1828. Grapes, apples and peaches were observed at the Fort by George Allan in 1832. Narcissa Whitman in her journal in 1836 says the Summerhouse on the "Jolie Prairie" was covered with grape vines. By 1854 vines had found their way from the Fort to the Puget Sound area, and by 1860 to the Walla Walla Valley.
Why would grapes love Clark County? We have the Columbia River to thank for that, depositing huge amounts of alluvial soils in the great Missoula Floods at the end of the last Ice Age when it broke through the Cascade Range seeking a route to the Pacific Ocean. George Simpson and John McLoughlin wanted the Fort to be as self-sufficient as possible. They chose the Fort Vancouver location partly beause there were many natural open areas, "plaines", where crops could be grown without needing to cut down a single tree. They grew crops and herded cattle primarily on Fort Plain and Mill Plain, and intermittently on the "Back Plains", that is Fourth Plain, Fifth Plain, etc. They had no way of knowing, of course, that the 400-foot-high Columbia Floods had created these vast alluvial plains, but they clearly understood their value for agricultural production. Numerous visitors to the Fort remarked about the "salubrious" climate: the mild maritime winter climate and normally long dry summer ripening season. Visitors appreciated the beautiful views of Mt. Hood and the Columbia valley, and the walks in the lovely gardens.
Nothing has changed since the Fort was established: the soils and the weather are still perfect for wine grapes. As in Bordeaux France, winegrapes love the gravelly, sandy well-drained soils which allow their roots to go deep to find water and nutrients. The topsoil is irrelevant, it's what is down deep that matters. Adding more spice to our mix are the mixed foothill and alluvial soils on the hills and in the valleys of our smaller rivers running to meet the Columbia. New and old vineyards near La Center, Ridgefield and Yacolt are proving those areas, too, will give us winegrapes with unique character. In 2003 Clark County's third winery, Bethany Vineyards, owned by Walt and Beth Hauser, opened near Ridgefield. Enjoying soil and climate influences from the Columbia Gorge and Willamette Valley, Clark County is in a unique position to grow grapes and make wines of unique quality.
In 1979/80 I did research on wine grapegrowing in Clark County culminating in the pamphlet, "Winegrowing in Clark County, WA". The booklet was updated in 2006 and is again available for purchase. I planted my first winegrapes in 1980, 1983 and again in 2005-2006. It is heartening to see others growing grapes and making wine, helping the industry to reach a critical mass in Clark County.
Our hats must go off to Joan Wolverton, who, almost singlehandedly, renewed winegrowing and winemaking in Southwest Washington at Salishan Vineyards near La Center. Many of us got our first grape cuttings from Joan and she has been an unending source of help to anyone wanting to stick a grape vine into the ground. She proved that great wine, particularly Pinot Noir, could be grown and made in Clark County. |
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WACC...Wine Alliance of Clark County |
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WACC...the Wine Alliance of Clark County is dedicated to helping the winegrowing and winemaking industry grow in Clark County. The Alliance will sponsor special events for members and the public. |
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Fort Vancouver/Columbia Plaines |
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