Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/681909
12 JUNE 2016 GOOD FRUIT GROWER www.goodfruit.com T he federal government has designated a growing wine grape region on the border of Washington and Idaho as the Lewis-Clark Valley American Viticultural Area. The appellation sits in a geographic region known as the "banana belt" for its high temperatures compared with sur- rounding areas. Almost 150 years ago, farmers who had immigrated to the Unites States from France and Germany were success- fully growing wine grapes in the region around Lewiston, Idaho, and Clarkston, Washington, until Prohibition halted production. The industry there has been slower to return than in other parts of the Pacifi c Northwest, but today, the Lewis- Clark Valley is home to three bonded wineries and 16 vineyards growing more than 80 acres of grapes. To those growing grapes and making wine there, it's not just another grape growing region. "This is really an amazing place to grow and make wine. I can't think of any place I'd rather be right now than here," said Coco Umiker, winemaker for Clearwater Canyon Cellars in Lewiston. Her husband, Karl, manages the winery's estate vineyards. "My husband and I really could have gone anywhere, but we decided to plant our fl ag here in Lewiston on our family farm, not just because we have family here, but because we really believe this is a premier place to grow and make wine," she said. In announcing the designation, the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau also modifi ed the boundary of the existing Columbia Valley AVA to eliminate a partial overlap with the new Lewis–Clark Valley AVA. What sets it apart Surrounding the Lewis-Clark AVA, temperatures are cooler, rainfall is higher and elevations are higher. Its steep can- yon walls, plateaus and bench lands dif- fer from the rounded, rolling hills of the Palouse region to the north or the rugged mountains to the east, south and west. Walla Walla Kennewick Pendleton Orofi no Lewiston Pullman Oregon Washington Idaho SOURCE: LEWIS-CLARK VALLEY WINE ALLIANCE TJ MULLINAX/GOOD FRUIT GROWER The newly designated wine grape growing region includes more than 80 acres of vineyards within 479 square miles. Lewis-Clark Valley AVA Clarkston New Lewis-Clark Valley appellation established on Washington, Idaho border sits in "banana belt." by Shannon Dininny Grapes 'An amazing place to grow and make wine' PHOTO BY KIM FETROW Coco Umiker is winemaker for Clearwater Canyon Cellars in Lewiston, Idaho. Her husband, Karl, manages the winery's estate vineyards. PHOTOS COURTESY COCO UMIKER The Lewis-Clark Valley has 16 vineyards and three bonded wineries.