Gail Puryear believes it is time to redefine wine appellations in Washington State. In the early days, appellations (known as American Viticultural Areas) were created by drawing lines around a land form, such as a valley, and calling it an AVA, he said. “But that doesn’t work any more.” Puryear, who is owner of Bonair Winery in Zillah and was instrumental in the recent creation of Washington State’s ninth AVA called Rattlesnake Hills, dubs the early AVAs in the state “mega AVAs.” The first few appellations approved in the Pacific Northwest encompass large valleys—Yakima Valley, Columbia Valley, and Oregon’s Willamette […]