Our Estate Vineyard Located in the Heart of
Washington Wine Country

About the AVA Unique Terroir of the
Horse Heaven Hills AVA

McKinley Springs is located in the heart of the Horse Heaven Hills, a long range of high, rolling hills in Klickitat, Yakima, and Benton counties in Washington State. The hills are an anticline ridge in the Yakima Fold Belt formed by north–south compression of lava flows in the Columbia River Basalt Group. The area takes its name from an early pioneer who said, upon seeing the region and its wide prairies and expanses, ''Surely this is Horse Heaven!”

2,800

acres of wine grapes

3,000+

growing degree days

20

varietals grown

219

fields of wine grapes

79

acres of concords

800-1,200

feet elevation

  • Location

    The majority of our fields are on a south-facing slope, and our latitude provides extended summer sunlight and a high number of growing degree days.

  • Soil

    Our soil is comprised of Warden Silt Loam and a deep layer of broken basalt which controls water by absorbing excess moisture. Also found throughout the farm is granite from the Missoula glacial floods, which washed rock in from Montana during the last ice age. 

  • Climate

    With its cool winters and warm summers, the Horse Heaven Hills AVA climate provides the ideal conditions for growing wine grapes. Arid conditions with high winds help reduce fungal disease, thicken grape skins and concentrate flavors. 

Our Varietals Great Grapes Make Great Wines

The wine grapes we grow in our estate vineyard are featured in more than 500 wines that are 90+ point, gold, or above. 

The Reds

  • Barbera

  • Cabernet Franc

  • Cabernet Sauvignon

  • Carignan

  • Cinsault

  • Grenache

  • Malbec

  • Merlot

  • Mourvèdre

  • Nebbiolo

  • Petit Verdot

  • Syrah

  • Zinfandel

The Whites

  • Chardonnay

  • Chenin Blanc

  • Muscat Canelli

  • Pinot Gris

  • Rousanne

  • Sauvignon Blanc

  • Vioginer