Your Next Bottle of Wine Could Come From the New Columbia Hills AVA
Federal regulators just approved the 241,109-acre Columbia Hills wine region in Washington state, paving the way for wineries to put the new designation on labels starting Sept. 16, 2026.
By Foodie Pundit Newsroom - Published - Updated - Section: Wine Spirits
Key points
- The federal government approved a new 241,109-acre official wine-growing region in Washington called the Columbia Hills.
- Wineries in the area can now label their wines with the "Columbia Hills" designation, a key marketing advantage.
- The decision was made by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) after a petition from local growers.
- This is a standard regulatory process, and the record shows local industry applied for a rule change they will profit from.
- The new designation becomes official in September 2026, so look for the first bottles with the new label to appear after that.
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