Lake Chelan is an inland fjord measuring 55 miles long and is part of the North Cascade mountain range in north central Washington State. It is one of Washington’s newest AVAs, receiving federal approval in 2009.
Defiance Vineyard is located on the south shore of Lake Chelan at 1250’ elevation and is close the lake shoreline. Vines are cropped at 2.5 tons to the acre. Soils consist of well-drained glacial and volcanic silt till which is typical of the Lake Chelan Valley.
Geology:
Its geology differs from the rest of the state in that it was not influenced by the Missoula Floods that happened 20-10,000 years ago. At the time of the floods, Lake Chelan was glaciated and protected from the floods, thus the soils here consist of sandy gravels with an abundance of granite bedrock, mica and quartz of glacial origin. The soil here is also influenced by pumice from nearby volcanic eruptions 12,000 or so years ago, providing an ashy component, unlike other parts of the state.
Lake Effect:
Another distinct element of the Lake Chelan AVA is the ‘lake effect’. Lake Chelan acts as a big heat sink that keep the temperatures a little warmer in the winter and therefore protected from some of the killing frosts that can occur in other growing areas and extending the growing season. Cool nights and warm days allow the let the grapes hang for a longer time, without becoming overripe.
Climate:
Our desert-like climate (only 10 inches of rain per year) allows us to regulate the amount of water the vineyards receive through managed drip irrigation. Irrigation water coming from the clear, clean glacial waters of the lake originating in the North Cascades mountains.
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