Comment from Puryear, Gail R. (Bonair Winery, Inc.)

I am writing in support of the establishment of the Snipes Mountain AVA. When the Yakima Valley AVA was established, little was known about growing wine grapes in Eastern Washington. We now know that over 95% of the land within the boundaries of the Yakima Valley AVA is unsuitable for growing wine grapes. Wine grapes simply do not grow in valleys in the Northwest. We also know that the Yakima Valley AVA includes climatic regions I though IV making it impossible to determine any ‘characteristic’ of grapes grown in the AVA. As petitioner to establish the Rattlesnake Hills AVA, I am acutely aware of the differences in climate and soils that exist within the Yakima Valley AVA. If AVA’s are to have meaning, these unique areas need to be identified.