RED MOUNTAIN AMERICAN VITICULTURAL AREA

AT ISSUE
The state approved $200,000 in the 2006 legislative session to develop a Master Site Plan for the Red Mountain American Viticultural Area (AVA), which is currently being developed. To become a world class destination location, issues such as reliable water and adequate transportation will need to be addressed.

TRI CITY LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL POSITION
• Encourage the Department of Ecology to issue the Kennewick Irrigation District (KID) water permit, allowing for an exchange of water withdrawals between the Lower Yakima River and the Columbia River (KID’s “Alternative 5” approach). Under the KID water right, the Red Mountain AVA and West Richland would be allowed access to new and much needed water supplies.
• Support the development of the I-82 Red Mountain Interchange to provide adequate transportation needs for economic development and tourism.
• Support the Regions efforts to develop viticulture and enology and the associated tourism activity and to further diversify the local economy.

BACKROUND
The Red Mountain AVA is an unincorporated, triangular-shaped, 4400 acre, federally-designated grape-growing and wine producing region on the south facing slope of Red Mountain between West Richland and Benton City, established in 2001. The newly formed AVA shares the same latitude as the French Bordeaux Region. Red Mountain is the smallest appellation in our State and has a uniquely excellent microclimate of air, drainage, light soils and deeply rooted vines. A Viticultural Park at Red Mountain would provide a State wide visitor destination for wine related tourism and would serve to increase tourism from out of state. Tourists would also visit wineries of the Columbia River, Walla Walla and the Yakima Valley AVA’s, as well as some of the other emerging visitor-serving assets, such as the regional trails system and the Hanford Reach National Monument and Interpretive Center.  Continued investment and the expansion of basic infrastructure services to provide a reliable water source and adequate transportation access will allow for the community to leverage this asset to meet market demand.

For more information, contact the Tri Cities Chamber of Commerce.