Kanawha River Valley AVA

Last updated
Kanawha River Valley AVA
Wine region
Type American Viticultural Area
Year established 1986 [1]
Country United States
Part of Ohio River Valley AVA, West Virginia
Climate region Humid subtropical/continental
Total area 64,000 acres (25,900 ha) [2]

The Kanawha River Valley AVA is an American Viticultural Area located in the watershed of the Kanawha River in West Virginia, between the city of Charleston and the Ohio border. The wine appellation includes 64,000 acres (25,900 ha) in portions of Cabell, Jackson, Kanawha, Mason, and Putnam counties. A portion of the western border of the AVA follows the Ohio River, but does not cross into Ohio. [1] The Kanawha River Valley AVA is part of the much larger Ohio River Valley AVA. The hardiness zone is mainly 6b.

American Viticultural Area designated wine grape-growing region in the United States

An American Viticultural Area (AVA) is a designated wine grape-growing region in the United States, providing an official appellation for the benefit of wineries.

Kanawha River tributary of Ohio River in West Virginia, United States

The Kanawha River is a tributary of the Ohio River, approximately 97 mi (156 km) long, in the U.S. state of West Virginia. The largest inland waterway in West Virginia, its valley has been a significant industrial region of the state since early in the 19th century.

West Virginia State of the United States of America

West Virginia is a state located in the Appalachian region in the Southern United States that is also considered to be a part of the Middle Atlantic States. It is bordered by Pennsylvania to the north, Maryland to the east and northeast, Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, and Ohio to the northwest. West Virginia is the 41st largest state by area, and is ranked 38th in population. The capital and largest city is Charleston.

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The Shawnee Hills AVA is an American Viticultural Area located between the Mississippi River and the Ohio River in southern Illinois. The wine appellation includes over 2,140 square miles (5,500 km2) of land in portions of Alexander, Gallatin, Hardin, Jackson, Johnson, Pope, Pulaski, Randolph, Saline, Union, and Williamson counties. The region stretches approximately 80 miles (130 km) east-west and 20 miles (30 km) north-south, and includes the vast majority of the Shawnee National Forest.

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The Lake Erie AVA is an American Viticultural Area that includes 2,236,800 acres (905,200 ha) of land on the south shore of Lake Erie in the U.S. states of Ohio, New York, and Pennsylvania. Over 42,000 acres (17,000 ha) of the region are planted in grapevines, predominantly in the Concord grape variety.

Cumberland Valley AVA

The Cumberland Valley AVA is an American Viticultural Area located in Washington County in west-central Maryland and Franklin and Cumberland counties in south-central Pennsylvania. Only 100 acres (40 ha) of the 765,000 acres (309,585 ha) included in the wine appellation are planted to grapevines, predominantly on high terraces over the Potomac River and on the slopes of South Mountain. The soil in the area is alkaline limestone. The Cumberland Valley has a hot-summer humid continental climate (Dfa) and is mainly in hardiness zone 6b with 7a at the ends. The AVA extends from the Potomac to the Susquehanna River.

Catoctin AVA

The Catoctin AVA is an American Viticultural Area located in the Frederick and Washington counties of western Maryland. The region is bordered by Catoctin Mountain to the east, the Pennsylvania border to the north, South Mountain to the west, and the Potomac River to the south. "Catoctin" is Algonquian for "speckled rock", a geological feature of the area. Two commercial wineries operate in the AVA. The hardiness zones are 7a and 6b.

References

  1. 1 2 Code of Federal Regulations. "§ 9.111 Kanawha River Valley." Archived 2012-02-12 at the Wayback Machine. Title 27: Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms; Part 9 — American Viticultural Areas; Subpart C — Approved American Viticultural Areas. Retrieved Feb. 5, 2008.
  2. Wine Institute, The (2008). "American Viticultural Areas by State" Archived 2008-01-27 at the Wayback Machine.. Retrieved Feb. 5, 2008.