Appellation: Columbia Valley

Planted in 1973, this 660-acre vineyard owned by Chateau Ste. Michelle has a lot of history behind it.

In the notorious winter of 1979, most of the vineyard was lost after a straight month of subfreezing weather. Undaunted, owner U.S. Tobacco replanted to the vineyard - this time ripping the ground several feet down so the roots could grow deep.

Appellation: Columbia Valley

The youngest vineyard on this list is Stillwater Creek, a 245-acre vineyard in Washington's Frenchman Hills. The Frenchman Hills are on the Royal Slope, a region north of the Wahluke Slope. Steeply sloped in some areas - as much as 22 percent in some areas - Stillwater Creek was planted in 2000 at the urging of former Chateau Ste. Michelle winemaker Mike Januik. Januik makes wines for his eponymous winery as well as Novelty Hill Winery in Woodinville, Wash. Novelty Hill is owned by the Alberg family, which owned the sagebrush-covered land that became Stillwater for 40 years before Januik saw it. Now in its seventh year, Stillwater Creek already is highly allocated by dozens of boutique wineries across Washington, especially top producers in Walla Walla and Woodinville.