Terroir of the Pacific Northwest, USA

This page contains information concerning my research on the influence of climate, topography, soils, and bedrock on viticulture in Washington, Oregon, and Idaho.

Click here for some photos of Columbia Basin terroir.

The links below are to media that feature Kevin's terroir research.

Washington State Wine Commission Walter Clore Honorarium

Wine and Spirits Magazine article on Walla Walla Valley Syrah

Keynote address on Geologic Setting of Pacific Northwest Terroir from 11th International Terroir Congress

Wine Spectator Interview on the Rocks District of Milton-Freewater

Kevin's "Somewhereness" video by ReD Associates

Podcast interview about Washington Terroir with Levi Dalton

"Like that Wine?You Might Thank an Earth Scientist" - NPR Science Friday article by Eli Chen

Thoughts on Becoming a Terroirist

"In Search of Terroir, Ear to the Ground" - New York Times article by Eric Asimov

"Topography and Temperature: Research in Columbia Valley links land and growing degree days" - Wines and Vines article by Peter Mitham

Terroir Interview on KRCW's "Good Food" Program

Publications

Pogue K.R., 2017, Geologic justifications for the distinctiveness of federally sanctioned American Viticultural Areas; Examples from the Columbia Basin, Washington and Oregon: Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, v. 49, n. , p.

Pogue, K.R., 2014, The Rocks District of Milton - Freewater, a terroir-driven American Viticultural Area: Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, v. 46, n. 6, p. 465.

Penner-Ash, C., and Pogue, K.R., 2014, Geomorphic controls on air temperature variation in the northern Willamette Valley American Viticultural Area: Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, v. 46, n. 6, p. 464.

Pogue, K.R., and Pitcavage, E., 2012, Soil chemistry as a measure of the distinctiveness American Viticultural Areas of the Columbia Basin, USA: Proceedings of the Ninth International Terroir Congress, Universite de Bourgogne, Dijon, France, v.1, p. 4-3 - 4-8.

Loyd, N., Pogue, K., and Hoogenboom, G., 2012, An analysis of the temporal vairiability of the vertical temperature gradient on Red Mountain, Washington: Abstracts, Annual Meeting of the Washington Association of Wine Grape Growers, Kennewick.

Pogue, K.R., 2011, An alternative terroir for aromatic white wines in the Columbia Basin: Abstracts volume, American Association of Geographers Annual Meeting, Seattle, Washington.

Pitcavage, E., and Pogue, K.R., 2011, Variations in soil chemistry in premier vineyards of the Columbia Basin, Washington: Implications for terroir: Abstracts volume, American Association of Geographers Annual Meeting, Seattle, Washington.

Pogue, K.R., 2010, Influence of basalt on the terroir of the Columbia Valley American Viticultural Area: Proceedings of the 8th International Terroir Congress, Centro di Ricerca per la Viticoltura, Soave, Italy, v. 1, p. 4-50 - 4-55.

Pogue, K.R., 2009, Folds, floods, and fine wine: geologic influences on the terroir of the Columbia basin, in O'Connor, J.E., Dorsey, R.J., and Madin, I.P., eds., Volcanoes to Vineyards: Geologic field trips through the dynamic landscape of the Pacific Northwest: Geological Society of America Field Guide 15, p. 1-17, doi: 10.130/2009.fld015(01).

Pogue, K.R., 2009, Influence of Yakima fold belt structures on Columbia Basin terroir: Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, v. 41, no. 7, p. 695.

Pogue, K.R. and Oze, C., 2009, Basalt terroir: Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, v. 41, no. 7, p. 37.

Pogue, K.R., 2009, Variations in physical terroir within the Walla Walla Valley American Viticultural Area: Abstracts volume, American Association of Geographers Annual Meeting, Las Vegas, Nevada, p. 489.

Pogue, K.R. and Dering G.M., 2008, Temperature Variations in the Walla Walla Valley American Viticultural Area: Proceedings of the 7th International Terroir Congress, Agroscope Changins-Wädenswil, Nyon, Switzerland, v. 2, p. 648-653.

Pogue, K.R. and Oze, C., 2008, Geological Controls on Viticulture in the Walla Walla Valley American Viticultural Area: Proceedings, Twenty-first Keck Geology Consortium Undergraduate Research Symposium, p. 55-60.

Pogue, K.R. and G.M. Dering, 2007, Relationships between Topography, Soil Type, and Vineyard Temperatures within the Walla Walla Valley American Viticultural Area: Eos Transactions, American Geophysical Union, v. 88, n. 52, Fall Meeting Supplement, Abstract A51B-0358.

Dering, G.M. and K.R. Pogue, 2007, Geomorphic Controls on Temperature Variations in the Walla Walla Valley American Viticultural Area: Geological Society of American Abstracts with Programs, v. 39, n. 4, p. 79.

Pogue, K.R. and G.M. Dering, 2007, Oregon’s Chateauneuf du Pape: Terroir of the Milton-Freewater Fan Gravels: Geological Society of American Abstracts with programs, v. 39, n. 4, p. 79.

Pogue, K.R., 2006, The Missoula Floods, in Washington: The State of Wine: Graphic Arts Books, Portland, Oregon, p. 27-31.