More than two hundred years ago, the pioneering American explorers Lewis and Clark traversed the amazing terrain of what is now Washington State. Many of the open vistas that captivated them remain today; but modern explorers discover something those early visitors never witnessed – one of the world's most dynamic wine regions. Here's what they find: Washington State is a diverse wine region. We cultivate great wines from Riesling, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah and many other classic grape varieties. That diversity extends beyond the bottle, too. Washington is a mosaic of landscapes extending from evergreen coasts and snow-capped mountains to a vast sagebrush desert where the sun shines across more than 300 days each year.

Diversity is also part of our culture. The Washington wine industry is a collection of creative people drawn from many different backgrounds and from several countries around the world. Alongside that complexity, Washington State's wine country is also a very genuine place. Our grape growers and winemakers live and work in small towns where restored old homes, beautiful barns, and converted mills truly reflect the modern American west. These communities are among the most easily approachable in the wine world. The person you see walking through the vineyard in jeans, or driving a forklift through the winery, or behind the tasting room counter is often the owner. Even our wines reflect authenticity: rare natural conditions here permit the cultivation of classic varieties without the common, manipulative practice of vine grafting or the intensive use of chemicals. So we harvest the purest expression possible for every wine. Washington State is also keenly ambitious. As the home of global giants Microsoft, Starbucks, Amazon.com, Costco and many others, it's not hard to appreciate that our wine industry also reflects tremendous vision and drive. Our pioneering growers and winemakers broke ground in a vast, wild territory where conventional wisdom said they could not. And they have expanded that work to create America's second-largest wine region, with more than 32,000 acres (12,950 hectares) of vines across 11 official appellations (or AVAs) and 650 wineries.

Finally, Washington State's wine industry is supremely integrated. Vineyards and wineries here are often spread across hundreds of miles, and that geography has guided growers and vintners to work in real partnership. From individual vine rows reserved for specific winemakers to fully fledged joint-ownership projects, our region is one of shared endeavors. And our wines show that same spirit of integration – combining the vibrant fruit character expected of American wine with the defined structure typical of European production.

Of course, this is just a snapshot of Washington State's dynamic wine region. Discover more by exploring the state firsthand. You'll be amazed.