2016 Avennia Champoux Vineyard Cabernet Franc

Avennia was started in 2009 when Marty Taucher, an Oregon native and early Microsoft executive, teamed up with winemaker Chris Peterson, who had made wine at DeLille Cellars, among other places. The partners sourced 16 tons of fruit in 2010 which became their debut vintage. Their aim is to acquire fruit from Washington’s best vineyards and create Bordeaux and Rhone-style wines. Avennia makes primarily red wines, along with some Sauvignon Blanc and rosé. Reviewers have been complimentary. “I continue to consider Chris Peterson’s Avennia estate to be one of the best in Washington State and he’s been making world-class wines for a number of years now,” wrote Jeb Dunnuck. “…these are brilliant wines readers need to seek out.”

Columbia Valley AVA is larger than some states. At 18,000 square miles, or 11 million acres, the appellation covers almost half of Washington State and a small part of Oregon on the south side of the Columbia River. Established in 1984, Columbia Valley contains numerous sub appellations within its boundaries, including Yakima Valley AVA and Walla Walla AVA, both large and important wine districts. Columbia Valley AVA, generally called the Columbia Basin by Pacific Northwesterners, is in the Columbia River Plateau, and the AVA also includes a section of northeastern Oregon. There are dozens of microclimates within this appellation of about 7,000 vineyard acres. Many kinds of grapes are grown in the Columbia Valley, though the principal grapes planted are Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay, Riesling, Syrah, Pinot Gris and Sauvignon Blanc. Eastern Washington experiences very hot summers and cold winters, and the northern latitude means that Washington vineyards receive several more hours of sun in the summer than California vineyards. Grapes in Washington therefore have time to develop significant tannins and overall ripeness.

This is a parent grape to Cabernet Sauvignon. It most likely originates from Basque country. It is an excellent blending grape, known for making the exquisite Cheval-Blanc. Franc is a little hardier on a vine than Sauvignon, but drinks smoothly at the table.