Central & Eastern Washington - Washington, Oregon and the Pacific Northwest - page 361

Central & Eastern Wash-
ington
Why Go?
If states were delineated purely by geography, Washington east of the Cascade Mountains
would be a separate entity. While the west breeds evergreen trees, liberal cities, perennial
rain and gourmet coffee, the east is the opposite: a land of sunbaked hills and big blue
skies stuffed with private vineyards, rodeo towns and huge Native American reservations.
The east's geographic identity is intrinsically linked to the mighty Columbia River,
which has transformed both the landscape and the economy. This once-parched region
now features gargantuan dams and ambitious irrigation projects that have converted bar-
ren valleys and scrubby steppe into a veritable Garden of Eden. Humanmade lakes have
provided a nexus of outdoor recreation, while the rich, irrigated soil has propelled the re-
gion into an enological rival to California, producing some of the nation's youngest, fruiti-
est and most promising new wines.
When to Go
Jul & Aug Wall-to-wall sunshine for wine-tasting trips in the Columbia River Valley.