The weather elements in Washington are important to how wine grapes grow including sun, dry growing season, water, daytime air and soil temperature, diurnal shift, different microclimates, and vital challenges.
Great wine grapes need sun to aid in the production of sugars (via photosynthesis), color development and heat accumulation for overall physiological ripening.
How much sun does Eastern Washington receive?
While the growing season is slightly shorter from beginning to end than more southerly wine regions, the number of sun hours received in Eastern Washington is equal due to incredibly long days at such a high latitude – receiving 16 hours of sun at the summer solstice.
There is sun 300 days a year.
The angle of the sun is similar to the great wine regions of Northern Europe, as they share similar latitudes.