Swan Creek AVA

Last updated
Swan Creek AVA
Wine region
Type American Viticultural Area
Year established2008 [1]
CountryUnited States
Part of North Carolina
Other regions in North Carolina Yadkin Valley AVA, Haw River Valley AVA
Climate region Humid subtropical
Soil conditionsLoam
Total area160–180 square miles (100,000–120,000 acres) [2]
Size of planted vineyards130 acres (53 ha) [3]
No. of vineyards8 [3]
Varietals produced Chambourcin, Petit Verdot, Traminette, Viognier, Montepulciano, Sangiovese, Pinot Grigio, Vermentino. Sagrantino, Petit Manseng [4] [5] [6]
No. of wineries8 [7]

The Swan Creek AVA is an American Viticultural Area located in the northwestern portion of North Carolina, in the Piedmont region. The appellation is distinguished by its loamy soil with schist and mica. [2] Established May 27, 2008, it is the second AVA to be established in North Carolina. [8] It is a sub-appellation of the Yadkin Valley AVA. [7]

Contents

Geography

The area is near the Brushy Mountains and includes parts of Wilkes, Yadkin, and Iredell counties. [1] [2]

The AVA shares its name with the unincorporated community of Swan Creek in Yadkin County. [9]

Climate

The Swan Creek AVA has a slightly cooler climate than the rest of the Yadkin Valley AVA—average annual maximum temperatures are 0.6 °F (0.33 °C) lower than in Yadkin, and average annual minimums are a full 2 °F (1.1 °C) lower, Rainfall ranges from approximately 44.4 inches (113 cm) to 57 inches (140 cm), with an additional average of 6.3 inches (16 cm) of snow per year, much less than surrounding areas. [9]

Wineries

Windsor Run Cellars Raffaldini Vineyards Piccione Vineyards Dobbins Creek Vineyards Shadow Springs Vineyard Laurel Gray Vineyards Midnight Magdalena Vineyards

See also

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References

  1. 1 2 "§ 9.211 Swan Creek" (Title 27: Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms; Part 9 — American Viticultural Areas; Subpart C — Approved American Viticultural Areas). Code of Federal Regulations. Retrieved June 24, 2011.
  2. 1 2 3 "Swan Creek AVA". North Carolina Winegrowers Association. Archived from the original on March 3, 2013. Retrieved September 2, 2017.
  3. 1 2 "Swan Creek (AVA): Appellation Profile". Appellation America. 2008. Archived from the original on September 9, 2013. Retrieved May 17, 2020.
  4. "North Carolina Wine Trail – Buck Shoals, Raffaldini, McRitchie, and Grassy Creek". The Wandering Gourmand. Retrieved 24 June 2011.
  5. "Raffaldini Estate Grapes" . Retrieved 3 June 2020.
  6. "N.C. Winery Snapshot" . Retrieved 3 June 2020.
  7. 1 2 "Swan Creek Wine Trail". Archived from the original on March 7, 2016. Retrieved March 14, 2016.
  8. "Swan Creek wins viticultural designation". Triad Business Journal. May 5, 2008.
  9. 1 2 "Proposed Establishment of the Swan Creek Viticultural Area". Federal Register. 71 (176). Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau: 22273–22277. April 25, 2008. Retrieved June 24, 2011.