Hanepoot

South African name for muscat of Alexandria. See muscat.

Washington State’s vineyards exist in near-desert-like conditions.

Answer: True.

While many of us think “rain” when we think of Washington (hence its famous coffeehouse culture, for what else would you do when it’s pouring?), this is not the case east of the Cascade Mountains. Were it not for a few mountain rivers, Eastern Washington, where nearly all of the state’s AVAs are located, would be a desert. Even so, average annual rainfall can be as low as 6 inches in some areas, like Washington’s largest AVA, Columbia Valley.

“When I first started, there weren’t really any Black wine professionals—spotting one was like seeing a unicorn. When you see someone who looks like you, engaging in something that you never thought was for you, it’s a game changer.”

—André Hueston Mack, sommelier, author and winemaker Maison Noir Wines

Get WineSpeed