PHOTO COURTESY OF WASHINGTON WINE COMMISSION The Yakima Valley American Viticultural Area, established by the federal government on March 23, 1983, is celebrating its 30th anniversary. In this issue, Good Fruit Grower begins an in-depth look at Yakima Valley’s early roots in the wine industry. Subsequent stories will focus on the vineyards and wineries of the region. The Yakima Valley appellation, the state’s largest and oldest winegrape-producing region, is known as the backbone of Washington State’s wine grape industry. But in recent years, the region’s achievements have gone largely ­unnoticed by a media more focused on newer wine areas in […]