Red Mountain is located in the southeast corner of Washington state near the Tri-Cities

Tri-Cities, Washington

The Tri-Cities is a mid-sized metropolitan area in the southeastern part of the U.S. state of Washington, consisting of three neighboring cities: Kennewick, Pasco, and Richland. The cities are located at the confluence of the Yakima, Snake, and Columbia rivers in the semi-arid region of...

. This region is situated among the Columbia, Snake and Yakima Rivers. The mountain covers an area of approximately 4040 acres (16.3 km²).

Red Mountain AVA

Red Mountain AVA

The Red Mountain AVA is an American Viticultural Area that includes the land surrounding Red Mountain in Benton County, Washington. It is part of the Yakima Valley AVA, which in turn is part of the larger Columbia Valley AVA. Located between Benton City and Richland, the Red Mountain AVA is the...

, Washington's smallest wine region appellation, is situated on the south-facing slope of Red Mountain, between the cities of Benton City

Benton City, Washington

Benton City is a city in Benton County, Washington, United States. The population was 3,038 at the 2010 census. The city is strongly associated with nearby Kiona, with which it shares a school district.-History:...

 and West Richland

West Richland, Washington

West Richland is a city in Benton County, Washington, United States, served by three elementary schools and a middle school , with an annual budget of about 30 million dollars. The population was 11,811 at the 2010 census...

 within the larger Yakima Valley. About 700 of the area's 4040 acres (16.3 km²) are planted to winegrapes, which mainly include Cabernet Sauvignon

Cabernet Sauvignon

Cabernet Sauvignon is one of the world's most widely recognized red wine grape varieties. It is grown in nearly every major wine producing country among a diverse spectrum of climates from Canada's Okanagan Valley to Lebanon's Beqaa Valley...

, Merlot

Merlot

Merlot is a darkly blue-coloured wine grape, that is used as both a blending grape and for varietal wines. The name Merlot is thought to derive from the Old French word for young blackbird, merlot, a diminutive of merle, the blackbird , probably from the color of the grape. Merlot-based wines...

, Cabernet franc

Cabernet Franc

Cabernet Franc is one of the major black grape varieties worldwide. It is principally grown for blending with Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot in the Bordeaux style, but can also be vinified alone - as in the Loire's Chinon...

, Syrah and Sangiovese

Sangiovese

Sangiovese is a red Italian wine grape variety whose name derives from the Latin sanguis Jovis, "the blood of Jove"...

. The area is home to 37 wineries.

Some of Washington's top estates are sourcing grapes from the Red Mountain AVA. The sandy loam soil of the region is high in calcium and alkaline. Red Mountain's vineyards are characterized by good air drainage, light soils and deeply rooted vines. With only 6 to 8 inches (203.2 mm) of annual rainfall, area growers must irrigate, which allows them to control vine vigor and ease vines into dormancy before winter. Red Mountain's growing season averages 180 days.

Nearby cities and towns

Benton City

Benton City, Washington

Benton City is a city in Benton County, Washington, United States. The population was 3,038 at the 2010 census. The city is strongly associated with nearby Kiona, with which it shares a school district.-History:...

, Kennewick

Kennewick, Washington

Kennewick is a city in Benton County in the southeastern part of the U.S. state of Washington, near the Hanford nuclear site. It is the most populous of the three cities collectively referred to as the Tri-Cities...

, Pasco

Pasco, Washington

Pasco is a city in and the county seat of Franklin County, Washington, United States.Pasco is one of three cities that make up the Tri-Cities region of the state of Washington...

, Prosser

Prosser, Washington

Prosser is a city in and the county seat of Benton County, Washington, United States, along the Yakima River with only one zip code 99350. The population was 5,714 at the 2010 census.-History:...

, Richland

Richland, Washington

Richland is a city in Benton County in the southeastern part of the U.S. state of Washington, at the confluence of the Yakima and the Columbia Rivers. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 48,058. April 1, 2011 estimates from the Washington State Office of Financial Management put the...

, West Richland

West Richland, Washington

West Richland is a city in Benton County, Washington, United States, served by three elementary schools and a middle school , with an annual budget of about 30 million dollars. The population was 11,811 at the 2010 census...

.