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The Horse Heaven Hills AVA (American Viticultural Area) is located within the larger Columbia Valley AVA in Washington State. Chardonnay, the Bordeaux red varieties and Syrah all perform admirably here as well.

The region was granted its own AVA title only in 2005. However it has the distinction of being home to some of Washington's oldest Cabernet Sauvignon vines, planted in 1972 by Walter Clore, a Washington State University researcher who believed the zone had significant viticultural potential.

The AVA lies south of the Horse Heaven Hills themselves, so named when an early pioneer declared the rolling, grass-covered ridge of hills a 'horse's heaven'. In total it covers an area of about 50 miles x 20 miles, or 570,000 acres (230,000 hectares).

The southern and eastern boundaries of the AVA are marked by a bend in the Columbia River as it swings south-east from the city of Richland. The Yakima Valley AVA can be found in the north, just over the ridgeline, and the Walla Walla Valley is in the east, just over the river.

Horse Heaven Hills is home to around 20 percent of Washington's state vineyard, with around 15,500 planted acres (6,275 hectares). There are over 30 vineyard operators, and a handful of wineries.

Many of the state's most famous names source grapes here. These include Chateau Ste. Michelle, whose Canoe Ridge winery on the banks of the Columbia River is the largest in Washington.

However, the region as a whole emphasizes quality over quantity. Snohomish-based Quilceda Creek winery was awarded a rare 100-point Robert Parker rating for its 2002 and 2003 wines, made from old-vine Cabernet Sauvignon grapes from Horse Heaven Hills and the Red Mountain AVA. It was the first time an American wine outside California had achieved this rating.

Grape varieties in Horse Heaven Hills

75 percent of plantings (c. 11,750 acres / 4,750ha) are to around 25 different red wine varieties. The five most planted are Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, Cabernet Franc and Malbec.

There are around 3,750 acres (1,525ha) of around 13 different white grapes. These are led by Chardonnay, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris and Chenin Blanc.

Growing conditions in Horse Heaven Hills

Elevations in Horse Heaven Hills range from 300ft to 1,800ft (90–550m) above sea level. Despite the region's proximity to the Columbia River, the land is bone dry, hot and windy. Vines would not survive without irrigation, as the annual rainfall here averages only nine inches (230mm).

Many of the best vineyards in Horse Heaven Hills are planted on the banks of the Columbia, where they are exposed to strong winds that toughen the grape skins, bring cooling influences and fight off fungal diseases in the vines. These winds are vital to viticulture here as they stress the plants. This reduces vigor and encourages production of high quality berries to ensure the propagation of their species.

The river itself helps to moderate the temperatures in the Horse Heaven Hills AVA. The seasonal temperature fluctuations here are not as extreme as in other parts of the Columbia Valley, and the milder winter leads to a slightly earlier growing season here. Along with the buffeting winds, the warmth from the river helps to combat the threat of devastating frosts in spring and autumn.

The Horse Heaven Hills are a part of the volcanic landscape of the Columbia Valley. Ancient soils of basalt in the AVA are overlaid with a topsoil of sandy loam, deposited over time by ancient floods and the region's strong winds. This soil drains well and encourages deeper root systems.