American Viticultural Area

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A bottle of wine from the Santa Maria Valley AVA, the nation's third American Viticultural Area established in 1981 Solomon Hills Rose (2).jpg
A bottle of wine from the Santa Maria Valley AVA, the nation's third American Viticultural Area established in 1981

An American Viticultural Area (AVA) is a designated wine grape-growing region in the United States, providing an official appellation for the mutual benefit of wineries and consumers. Winemakers frequently want their consumers to know about the geographic pedigree of their wines, as wines from a particular area can possess distinctive characteristics. Consumers often seek out wines from specific AVAs, and certain wines of particular pedigrees can claim premium prices and loyal customers. If a wine is labeled with an AVA, at least 85% of the grapes that make up the wine must have been grown in the AVA, and the wine must be fully finished within the state where the AVA is located. [1]

Contents

Regulations

Since 1980, the boundaries of AVAs were defined by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), an independent bureau within the United States Department of the Treasury that received and handled petitions for viticultural areas, wine production and labeling. On January 2003, under the provisions of the Homeland Security Act of 2002, the ATF was extensively reorganized and the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) was created to oversee wine production, labeling and viticultural areas. [1] [2]

Section 4.25(e)(2) of the regulations (27 C.F.R. § 4.25(e)(2)) outlines the procedure for proposing an AVA and provides that any interested party may petition the TTB to establish a grape-growing region as an AVA. Section 9.12 of the TTB regulations (27 C.F.R. § 9.12) prescribes the standards for petitions for the establishment or modification of AVAs. Petitions to establish an AVA must include the following:

Once a petition is accepted as complete, the TTB may choose to seek public input on the proposal and at its sole discretion may approve the proposed AVA.

Before the AVA system, wine appellations of origin in the United States were designated based on state or county boundaries. All of these appellations were grandfathered into federal regulations and may appear on wine labels as designated places of origin in lieu of an AVA, such as Sonoma County. In order for a wine to be labeled with a state or county appellation, at least 75% of the grapes used to make the wine must have been grown within the boundary of the appellation, and the wine must be fully finished within the state in which the appellation is located. Some states have more stringent rules, such as California, which requires 100% of the grapes used to make the wine be from California and that the wine be fully finished within the state. Washington requires 95% of the grapes in a Washington wine be grown in Washington, although notably the Columbia Valley AVA, Columbia Gorge AVA, and Walla Walla Valley AVA [3] are shared with Oregon.

Around the country

A vineyard in the Leelanau Peninsula AVA, in Michigan. Michigan is home to five AVAs, all adjacent to Lake Michigan. Michigan Chardonnay vineyard.jpg
A vineyard in the Leelanau Peninsula AVA, in Michigan. Michigan is home to five AVAs, all adjacent to Lake Michigan.

AVAs vary widely in size, [4] ranging from the Upper Mississippi River Valley AVA, at more than 19 million acres (29,900 square miles (77,000 km2)) across four states (Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin), [5] to the Cole Ranch AVA in Mendocino County, California, at only 60 acres (24 ha). [6]

The Augusta AVA, which occupies the area around the town of Augusta, Missouri, was the first recognized AVA, gaining the status on June 20, 1980. [7] There are currently 276 AVAs spread across 34 states, with over half (154) in California. [8]

An AVA may be located within one or more larger AVAs. For example, the Santa Clara Valley AVA and Livermore Valley AVA are located within the boundaries of the San Francisco Bay AVA, which is itself located within the Central Coast AVA. [8] In such cases, the wine may be labeled with any of the relevant AVAs, but winemakers generally label wines with the most specific AVA allowed for each wine. Smaller AVAs are often perceived to be associated with smaller production and higher quality wines, though this is not always the case. See map on the right showing the outline of the Paso Robles AVA, California's largest in total area, and the eleven distinct AVAs contained within it.

Paso Robles AVA in California's Central Coast. Paso Robles AVA.jpg
Paso Robles AVA in California's Central Coast.

In 2018, the second session of the 115th Congress recognized the contribution of American Viticultural Areas to the economy. The Blunt-Merkley Resolution passed unanimously. [9] It noted that an AVA allows vintners to describe more accurately the origin of their wine, while helping vintners to build and enhance the reputation and value of the wines produced. AVAs also allow consumers to attribute a given quality, reputation, or other characteristic to a wine made from grapes grown in an AVA. AVAs also help consumers identify what they purchase. [10]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arroyo Seco AVA</span> Appelation that designates wine in Monterey County, CA

Arroyo Seco is an American Viticultural Area (AVA) in Monterey County, California, southeast of Monterey Bay. The state's 15th appellation was established on May 16,1983 by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), Treasury after reviewing the petition submitted by the Arroyo Seco Winegrowers and Vintners, an association composed of grape growers and vintners with vineyards, to establish a viticultural area within Monterey County known as "Arroyo Seco."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Willamette Valley AVA</span> Wine region in Oregon, United States

Willamette Valley is an American Viticultural Area (AVA) which lies in the Willamette Valley of Oregon. The AVA is the wine growing region which encompasses the drainage basin of the Willamette River. It stretches from the Columbia River in the north to just south of Eugene in the south, where the Willamette Valley ends; and from the Oregon Coast Range in the west to the Cascade Mountains in the east. At 5,360 square miles, it is the largest AVA in the state, and contains most of the state's wineries; approximately 908 as of 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Columbia Valley AVA</span> American Viticultural Area in Washington and Oregon

Columbia Valley is an American Viticultural Area (AVA) which lies within the Columbia River Plateau, through much of central and southern Washington state, with a section crossing the state boundary into northern Oregon south of the Columbia River. The viticultural area includes the drainage basin of the Columbia River and its tributaries through much of Washington. It was established by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), Treasury on December 13, 1984 after evaluating the petition filed by Drs, Walter Clore and Wade Wolfe of Prosser, Washington on behalf of Washington’s oldest and largest winery, Chateau Ste. Michelle, and by William Blosser of the Sokol Blosser Winery, Dundee, Oregon. Allen Shoup, president of Chateau Ste. Michelle, understood the importance of obtaining appellation status to grow the reputation of the Northwest viticulture industry.

Knights Valley is an American Viticultural Area (AVA) located in Sonoma County, California. As one of the five original viticultural areas in the county, Knights Valley was established on October 21, 1983 by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), Treasury after reviewing the petition submitted by The Knights Valley Wine-Growers Committee, an organization of grape/wine industry members, signed by 16 persons, to establish a viticultural area in northeastern Sonoma County named "Knights Valley." The area encompasses approximately 36,240 acres (57 sq mi) with over 30 growers cultivating 2,000 acres (809 ha) under vine. In the easternmost Sonoma County region, Knights Valley has the warmest climate in the county. The northernmost section of the boundary line runs slightly to the north of Pine Mountain; the southernmost section of the boundary line borders the petrified forest area immediately to the north of Porter Creek. The Sonoma County line bordering Lake County and Napa County forms the eastern section of the boundary of the viticultural area. The easternmost section of the boundary line abuts the boundaries for the Alexander Valley and Chalk Hill viticultural areas. The appellation is the border separating Sonoma County from the Napa Valley.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Santa Maria Valley AVA</span> American wine region located in California

Santa Maria Valley is an American Viticultural Area (AVA) which straddles the boundary of Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties in California's multi-county Central Coast AVA. It was established on August 5, 1981, by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) as California's second oldest AVA. A portion of the AVA crosses the Cuyama River into the southernmost corner of San Luis Obispo County. The east-west orientation of the 152.3 square miles with a wide, open valley and rolling hills means cool winds and fog flow in freely from the Pacific Ocean, settling most noticeably in lower-lying areas. The result is a mild Mediterranean climate that lengthens the growing season and contributes to the eventual sugar/acid balance in the grapes from Santa Maria Valley's 7,500 acres (3,000 ha) cultivated vineyards. On January 28, 2011, the AVA was granted a 29.4 square miles expansion to its southern boundary.

Cole Ranch is an American Viticultural Area (AVA) located in Mendocino County, California. The small viticultural area was established on April 15, 1983 by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), Treasury after reviewing the petition submitted by the proprietor of Cole Ranch in Ukiah, California. At less than a quarter of a square mile, it is the smallest appellation in the United States. The viticultural area is located in a small, narrow mountain valley west of Hwy 101 on the 500 acres (0.78 sq mi) ranch originally owned by the Cole family. The valley is approximately one mile in length and a half mile across at its widest point tucked into the high hills ranging from 1,400 to 1,600 ft (427–488 m) in elevation. The AVA is located between the Russian River and Anderson Valley. Several prominent wineries source grapes from Cole Ranch including Fetzer Vineyards and Chateau St. Jean. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot Pinot Noir and Riesling are the most popular planting. Cole Ranch viticultural area is sub-region of Mendocino AVA. As of 2024, the Sterling family, proprietors of the Esterlina Winery located at Philo, owns the vineyard acreage.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Central Coast AVA</span>

Central Coast is a vast American Viticultural Area (AVA) that spans along the Central California Pacific coastline from the San Francisco Bay Area south through Monterey, San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara Counties. It was established on November 25, 1985 by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), Treasury after reviewing the petition submitted by Taylor California Cellars, a winery in Gonzales, California, to establish the "Central Coast" viticultural area. The boundaries of the Central Coast, which have been expanded twice, includes portions of six counties where approximately 100,000 acres (40,469 ha) cultivated with Chardonnay being more than half of the varietal. Within the multi-county AVA are numerous established appellations that share the same maritime climate produced by the Pacific Ocean.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anderson Valley AVA</span> Appelation that designates wine in Mendocino County, California, U.S.

Anderson Valley is an American Viticultural Area (AVA) located in Anderson Valley in the western part of Mendocino County, California lying generally along the watershed of the Navarro River. The viticultural area was established on August 18, 1983 by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), Treasury after reviewing the petition submitted by the Anderson Valley Appellation Committee proposing a viticultural area to be named "Anderson Valley." It encompasses about 57,600 acres (90 sq mi) with 600 acres (243 ha) of vineyards widely dispersed within its boundaries. It is known primarily for its Pinot noir and sparkling wine production.

Mendocino Ridge is a coastal, cool climate and high altitude American Viticultural Area (AVA) located entirely within the coastal zone of Mendocino County, California. The viticultural area was established on October 27, 1997 by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), Treasury after reviewing the petition submitted by Mr. Steve Alden on behalf of the Mendocino Ridge Quality Alliance proposing a viticultural area named "Mendocino Ridge." The boundaries of the 262,400 acres (410 sq mi) AVA encompass the coastal ridges at or above 1,200 ft (366 m) in elevation adjacent to the Pacific Ocean that reach inland toward the Anderson Valley. Roughly 36 mi (58 km) of the southernmost portion of the Mendocino coastline forms the AVA western border, with the Sonoma County line as the southern boundary, the Navarro River is the northern boundary and Anderson Valley outlines the inland boundary running northwest–southeast. Mendocino Ridge is essentially a northern extension of the Sonoma Coast viticultural area. Mendocino Ridge AVA designation is unique by its elevation where vineyards lie at or above 1,200 ft (366 m). This means Mendocino Ridge is the only non-contiguous AVA in the United States. The Mendocino Ridge AVA has been nicknamed "Islands in the Sky," because the thick fog moving inland from the Pacific Ocean blankets the coast and the valleys between the ridge tops, making the tops of the mountains, where the vinyards lay, look like islands protruding from a sea of fog. Mendocino Ridge AVA lies above the Anderson Valley and Mendocino appellations. The Mendocino Ridge viticultural area contains approximately 1,500 to 2,000 acres (607–809 ha), about 2% of the total acreage, that are suitable for vineyards. The local hillsides are very steep and covered with timber, making them unfit for viticulture. Estimates of planted acres range from 233 to 410, which accounts for about 0.3% of the total area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North Coast AVA</span> American Viticultural Area in California

The North Coast AVA is an American Viticultural Area in the state of California that encompasses grape-growing regions in six counties located north of San Francisco: Lake, Marin, Mendocino, Napa, Sonoma, and Solano. This large appellation covers over 3,000,000 acres (5,000 sq mi) and includes a number of smaller sub-appellations that all share the common ecology trait of weather affected by the fog and breezes off the Pacific Ocean.

Mendocino is an American Viticultural Area (AVA) located in Mendocino County, California within the vast 3,251,042 acres (5,080 sq mi) multi-county North Coast appellation. Mendocino AVA was established on June 15, 1984 by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), Treasury after reviewing a petition submitted by Mr. James A. Beckman, Vice-President of Guild Wineries and Distilleries, on behalf of 113 local viticulture industry members within the County, proposing a viticultural area named "Mendocino." The 283,300 acres (443 sq mi) viticultural area encompasses eight valleys including Anderson Valley, Potter Valley, Redwood Valley, Capella Valley, Ukiah Valley, Knights (McNab) Valley, Sanel Valley, and McDowell Valley where approximately 35,000 acres (55 sq mi) or 13 percent of the area is suitable for grape production. As of 2024, eight smaller sub-AVAs are nested within the Mendocino appellation that largely encompasses Mendocino County. The “Mendocino” name is synonymous with excellent wines, i.e., Carignan, Charbono, Grenache, Petite Sirah, Syrah and Zinfandel, that are sourced from the Mediterranean climate grapes cultivated in the area which for many years has been known as the “Mendocino” vintage. Anderson Valley, because of its cooler climate, is known for its Pinot noir and sparkling wine production. Many wineries in the adjacent Sonoma, Napa and Lake counties source Mendocino grapes to blend into vintages labeled with their appellations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Howell Mountain AVA</span> Appelation that designates wine in Napa County, California

Howell Mountain is an American Viticultural Area (AVA) located in Napa County, California and the first sub-AVA within the internationally-acclaimed Napa Valley. The 14,080 acres (22 sq mi) region was effectively recognized on January 30, 1984 by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), Treasury after reviewing the petition submitted by members of the grape-growing and wine-producing industries in the area proposing to establish a viticultural area named "Howell Mountain."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">California Shenandoah Valley AVA</span> Viticultural area in California, US

California Shenandoah Valley is an American Viticultural Area (AVA) located within portions of Amador County and El Dorado County, California. The area was established on January 27, 1983 by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Treasury after approving the petition from the Amador County Wine Grape Growers Association proposing a viticultural area in Amador County, California, to be known as "Shenandoah Valley." It lies within the vast multi-county Sierra Foothills viticultural area boundaries and borders the northwest boundary of Fiddletown viticultural area which received recognition later the same year. In the petition, the area consists of approximately 10,000 acres (16 sq mi) with about1,200 acres (486 ha) under vine. The petition requested ATF for the Shenandoah Valley viticultural area to be situated to the north and west of Fiddletown, and to the north and east of Plymouth.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Monterey AVA</span> Viticultural area in Monterey County, California

Monterey is an American Viticultural Area (AVA) located in eastern Monterey County, California. It was recognized on July 16, 1984 by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), Treasury after reviewing the petition submitted by the Monterey Winegrowers Council to establish the "Monterey" viticultural area. The designated area within the multi-county Central Coast AVA expands almost the entire length of the county from the Monterey Bay southern shoreline to the Salinas river valley framed by the Santa Lucia, Sierra de Salinas and Gabilan Ranges stretching north-south for about 100 miles (160 km) from Watsonville to its southern point, abutting the town of Paso Robles in San Luis Obispo County. Monterey AVA expands approximately 360,000 acres (560 sq mi) with about 40,000 acres (16,000 ha) of cultivated vineyards. The AVA includes parts of the Carmel and the Salinas valleys containing five smaller American viticultural areas: Arroyo Seco, Hames Valley, San Bernabe, San Lucas and Santa Lucia Highlands. The northern portion is a cool growing region with a very long growing season. Daytime temperatures rarely exceed 75 °F (24 °C) in most parts of the region, although the southern segments of the AVA can measure 100 °F (38 °C) at times. The soil is sandy loam and most regions require irrigation from the Salinas River.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Santa Lucia Highlands AVA</span> Appelation that designates wine in Monterey County, CA

Santa Lucia Highlands is an American Viticultural Area (AVA) located in central Monterey County, California and lies within the boundaries of the larger, elongated Monterey viticultural area. It was recognized by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms {ATF}, Treasury on June 15, 1992 after reviewing the petition from Mr. Barry Jackson of the Harmony Wine Company proposing a viticultural area to be known as "Santa Lucia Highlands."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sta. Rita Hills AVA</span> Winemaking region in California, United States

Sta. Rita Hills is an American Viticultural Area located in Santa Barbara County, California within the vast Santa Ynez Valley. The approximately 30,720 acres (48 sq mi) area was established on May 31, 2001 by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), Department of the Treasury after reviewing the petition submitted by J. Richard Sanford and drafted by Wesley D. Hagen, on behalf of viticulturists and vintners working in Santa Barbara County. The petition was signed by 22 people, 14 of whom are local wine grape growers, to establish a viticultural area encompassed by, but separate from, the Santa Ynez Valley AVA to be named "Santa Rita Hills."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Santa Ynez Valley AVA</span> Wine region in Santa Barbara, California, United States

The Santa Ynez Valley AVA is an American Viticultural Area located in Santa Barbara County, California established on May 16, 1983 by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), Treasury after approving a petition submitted by Firestone Vineyard, a bounded winery in Los Olivos, California. It is part of the larger Central Coast AVA, and contains the greatest concentration of wineries in Santa Barbara County. The valley is formed by the Purisima Hills and San Rafael Mountains to the north and the Santa Ynez Mountains to the south creating a long, east-west corridor with very cool temperatures on the coast that become progressively warmer inland. The Santa Ynez River flows east to west on the valley floor toward the Pacific Ocean. As of 2021, the Santa Ynez Valley contains four other established viticultural areas: Sta. Rita Hills on its western boundary; Ballard Canyon and Los Olivos District occupying the center region; and Happy Canyon on the eastern border. Chardonnay is the most planted grape variety in the cooler, western portion of the valley while Rhône varieties thrive in the eastern locales.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Santa Barbara County wine</span> Wine region in California, US

Santa Barbara County wine is an appellation that designates wine made from grapes grown mostly in Santa Barbara County, California which is located approximately 50 miles (80 km) north of Los Angeles County. County names in the United States automatically qualify as legal appellations of origin for wine produced from grapes grown in that county and do not require registration with the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) of the Treasury Department. TTB was created in January 2003, when the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, or ATF, was extensively reorganized under the provisions of the Homeland Security Act of 2002.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Monterey County wine</span> Appelation that designates wine in Monterey County, CA

Monterey County wine is a appellation that designates wine made from grapes grown in Monterey County, California which lies entirely within the expansive multi-county Central Coast viticultural area. County names in the United States automatically qualify as legal appellations of origin for wine produced from grapes grown in that county and do not require registration with the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB). TTB was created in January 2003, when the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, or ATF, was extensively reorganized under the provisions of the Homeland Security Act of 2002.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Goose Gap AVA</span> Viticultural area in Washington, USA

Goose Gap is the 19th American Viticultural Area (AVA) in Washington, United States. It encompasses the local region surrounding Goose Mountain in Benton County between Kiona to the west, and Richland along the Columbia River to the east. The viticultural area was formally established on August 2, 2021, by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB), Treasury after reviewing the petition submitted by geologist/vintner, Alan Busacca, on behalf of the Goose Gap Wine Grower's Association, proposing the viticultural area "Goose Gap". The area is a sub-appellation entirely within the Yakima Valley and the expansive Columbia Valley AVAs sandwiched on a northwest–southeast axis between neighboring viticultural areas Red Mountain and the minute Candy Mountain.

References

  1. 1 2 "Wine Appellations of Origin". Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau. U.S. Department of the Treasury. Retrieved April 15, 2021.
  2. ↑ "The TTB Story". TTB.gov. Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau, Treasury. 2002.PD-icon.svg This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain .
  3. ↑ "Washington/Oregon Wine Leaders Oppose AVA Rule". Great Northwest Wine. April 13, 2015.
  4. ↑ "Welcome to the World, Tehachapi Mountains AVA!" (e.g., AVA geographic areas). Wine, Wit and Wisdom. Retrieved May 10, 2019.
  5. ↑ "Upper Mississippi River Valley (AVA)". Appellation America. Retrieved July 17, 2015.
  6. ↑ "Cole Ranch (AVA)". Appelation America. Archived from the original on September 7, 2013. Retrieved July 17, 2015.
  7. ↑ "Augusta Viticultural Area" (27 CFR Part 9 [T.D. ATF-72; Notice No. 325] Final Rule). Federal Register . 45 (121). Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), Treasury: 41632–41634. June 20, 1980. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 6, 2024.PD-icon.svg This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain .
  8. 1 2 "Established American Viticultural Areas". Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB). U.S. Department of the Treasury . Retrieved October 31, 2024.PD-icon.svg This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain .
  9. ↑ "Senate Passes Blunt-Merkley Resolution Recognizing Economic & Cultural Contributions of American Viticultural Areas". Sen. Roy Blunt. September 26, 2018. Archived from the original (Press release) on March 26, 2019. Retrieved March 26, 2019.
  10. ↑ "Recognizing the contributions of American Viticultural Areas and winegrowing regions" (PDF). www.blunt.senate.gov. September 26, 2018. Archived from the original (Blunt-Merkley Resolution) on March 26, 2019. Retrieved March 26, 2019.
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