<P> Washington wine is wine produced from grape varieties grown in the U.S. state of Washington . Washington ranks second in the United States ( behind California ) in the production of wine . By 2011 , the state had over 43,000 acres ( 170 km ) of vineyards , a harvest of 142,000 short tons ( 129,000 t ) of grapes , and exports going to over 40 countries around the world from the 850 + wineries located in the state . While there are some viticultural activities in the cooler , wetter western half of the state , the majority ( 99.9 % ) of wine grape production takes place in the shrub - steppe eastern half . The rain shadow of the Cascade Range leaves the Columbia River Basin with around 8 inches ( 200 mm ) of annual rain fall , making irrigation and water rights of paramount interest to the Washington wine industry . Viticulture in the state is also influenced by long sunlight hours ( on average , two more hours a day than in California during the growing season ) and consistent temperatures . </P>
<P> Washington wine is wine produced from grape varieties grown in the U.S. state of Washington . Washington ranks second in the United States ( behind California ) in the production of wine . By 2011 , the state had over 43,000 acres ( 170 km ) of vineyards , a harvest of 142,000 short tons ( 129,000 t ) of grapes , and exports going to over 40 countries around the world from the 850 + wineries located in the state . While there are some viticultural activities in the cooler , wetter western half of the state , the majority ( 99.9 % ) of wine grape production takes place in the shrub - steppe eastern half . The rain shadow of the Cascade Range leaves the Columbia River Basin with around 8 inches ( 200 mm ) of annual rain fall , making irrigation and water rights of paramount interest to the Washington wine industry . Viticulture in the state is also influenced by long sunlight hours ( on average , two more hours a day than in California during the growing season ) and consistent temperatures . </P>
how many wineries are there in washington state
how many wineries are there in washington state
850 +
850 +