Upper Hudson AVA

Upper Hudson AVA
Wine region
Type	American Viticultural Area
Year established	January 7th, 2019
Country	United States
Other regions in vicinity	Champlain Valley of New York AVA
Climate region	Continental
Heat units	2550 growing degree days
Total area	1650 square miles
No. of vineyards	17
Varietals produced	Marquette, Frontenac, La Crosse, LaCrescent, Louise Svenson, St Croix, Kay Gray, Brianna, Cayuga, Melody,
No. of wineries	17

Last updated May 16, 2024

The Upper Hudson AVA is an American Viticultural Area located to the north and west of Albany, New York.^[1]^[2] It is approximately 1650 square miles with nearly 65 acres of vines planted and 19 vineyards. It includes parts or all of seven counties in upstate New York, specifically Albany, Montgomery, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schenectady, Schoharie and Washington.

History

The petition for the AVA was accepted as perfected by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) on July 30, 2015. On April 9, 2018 the proposed establishment of the Upper Hudson Viticultural Area was published in the Federal Register and removed from TTB's list of pending AVA's. From April 9, 2018 to June 9, 2018, the document was open for public comment. On December 6, 2018 the Final Ruling^[3] was published in the Federal Register with an effective date of January 7, 2019.

Upon completion of the rulemaking process, TTB allows wineries in the AVA to use the term "Estate Bottled" or use the "Upper Hudson" AVA name on the wine label.^[4] According to the TTB regulations Estate Bottled requires that 100% of the wine came from grapes grown on land owned by or controlled by the winery, which must be located in the viticultural area. The winery must crush and ferment the grapes and finish, age and bottle the wine in a continuous process on the premise.

Upper Hudson Wine Trail

The Upper Hudson Wine Trail legislation was passed by the New York State Senate and Assembly during the 2017 Legislative session. For the 2016-17 legislative session Assemblywoman Carrie Woerner, Senator Kathy Marchione and Wine Trail President Andrew Weber worked to get passage of the bill. It was signed into law by Governor Cuomo on August 21, 2017.^[5] The process began in the fall of 2015 after the AVA petition had been accepted as perfected by TTB. During the 2015-16 New York legislative session the Upper Hudson Wine Trail Bill was introduced as A10609 and S8052 where it was passed by the Senate.

Regional Grapes

The principal varieties of grapes being grown and used in the winemaking process include Marquette and Frontenac for the reds and La Crescent and La Crosse for the whites. Many other varieties of cold hardly grapes have been developed by the University of Minnesota or the New York State Agricultural Experiment Station in Geneva, New York. Some of these new varieties can withstand temperatures of -35F.

Climate

The region has two major rivers running through it, the Hudson River and the Mohawk River. It is bounded by the Taconic Mountains to the east, the Adirondack Mountains to the North and West and the Catskill Mountains to the south. The defining feature of the region which distinguished it from the surrounding areas is Growing Degree Days (GDD), as shown in the chart. The Cumulative GDD chart displays data from 19 locations from September 1 to October 31. Being that the data is a three-year average, more than 10,000 data points are used. Those locations within the AVA are represented with dotted lines. Those locations outside the region are solid lines. The five temperature locations within the AVA and a location just outside the AVA (Schoharie) all lie in a grouping that plateaus at approximately 2500 GDD. The warmer locations along bodies of water have a greater GDD average and those areas in the various mountains surrounding the AVA have a lower GDD. The climate zones for the Upper Hudson AVA are predominantly zone 5A and 5B.^[6] South of the city of Albany, NY and along the Hudson River is zone 6A.^[6]

Geology

The Upper Hudson region is an area rich in geologic/tectonic activity. Over the course of history the Adirondack Mountains, Allegheny Plateau, Taconic Mountains and the Mohawk and Hudson Rivers all have been produced by this activity. These features are the results of different tectonic movements and these features have created the topography that make up the Upper Hudson region and lends itself to creating the distinct differences from the surrounding areas. Most of New York State is under laid by sedimentary rocks: sandstone, shale, limestone and conglomerate. This is due to the fact that for much of New York States geologic history it was under water. 475 MYA seas covered all of New York and most of the eastern half of proto North America.^[7] During the Paleozoic era from 500 to 300 million years ago (MYA), very thick limestone deposits formed, nearly two thousand feet of sedimentary rock was deposited at the bottom of that ancient sea. Today those rock layers are visible in many places. Approximately 300MYA the tectonic plate movements that gave rise to the Allegheny Plateau and the Taconian Orogeny began to shape the region and began to create dry land. The Adirondack Mountains are a relatively new feature that was formed in the last 10 to 20 million years due to an uplifting or dome.^[7] The Adirondacks continue to grow today at a rate of approximately 2.0 to 3.0 mm per year.^[8] These three features along with the Hudson and Mohawk rivers give the region its characteristics. The second historic event is the ice sheets that advanced and retreated over the region numerous times, the Laurentide Ice Sheet. These ice sheets which at some time were more than 3 miles thick moved and deposited much of the overlaying soils in the region. They also changed some of the features developed from the much earlier tectonic movements and help to erode vast quantities of rock. They are the force that created the Finger Lakes. These ice sheet also contributed to the formation Lake Albany, a 160-mile inland body of water that stretched from Glens Falls NY to Poughkeepsie NY, but eventually drained.

Vineyards

The vineyards within the AVA include, Altamont Vineyards, Capoccia Vineyards, Creek Haven Vineyard, Dusenberry Vineyards, Engle's Vineyard, Fossil Stone Vineyards, Galway Rock Vineyard, Helderberg 1839 Vineyard, Helderberg Meadworks, Hummingbird Hills Vineyard, Ledge Rock Hill Winery, MaCauley Creek Vineyard, Clover Pond Vineyard, Northern Cross Vineyard, Pellegrino Vineyards, Redstone Ridge Vineyard, Schernau Estate's Vineyard, South Dominion Vineyard and Victory View Vineyard.

Related Research Articles

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.

Washington wine is a wine produced from grape varieties grown in the U.S. state of Washington. Washington ranks second in the United States in the production of wine. By 2017, the state had over 55,000 acres (220 km²) of vineyards, a harvest of 229,000 short tons (208,000 t) of grapes, and exports going to over 40 countries around the world from the 940+ wineries located in the state. While there are some viticultural activities in the cooler, wetter western half of the state, the majority (99.9%) of wine grape production takes place in the shrub-steppe eastern half. The rain shadow of the Cascade Range leaves the Columbia River Basin with around 8 inches (200 mm) of annual rain fall, making irrigation and water rights of paramount interest to the Washington wine industry. Viticulture in the state is also influenced by long sunlight hours and consistent temperatures.

Yakima Valley is the first American Viticultural Area (AVA) established within Washington state, gaining the recognition on May 4, 1983. Within the vast Columbia Valley AVA, Yakima Valley appellation cultivates more than 53,000 acres (21,448 ha) giving the region the largest concentration of wineries and vineyards in the state. The most widely planted varietals in the area are Chardonnay, Riesling, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot gris, and Syrah. Nearly 40% of Washington's annual wine production is made from Yakima Valley grapes. In addition to grapes, the Yakima Valley is also home to several fruit orchards growing apples, cherries, nectarines, peaches, pears and plums. Around the town of Zillah, there is the Zillah Fruit Loop driving tour through the area's orchards and vineyards. The area is also home to nearly 80% of the US hop production.

Horse Heaven Hills is an American Viticultural Area (AVA) in southeastern Washington lying in portions of Klickitat, Yakima, and Benton counties, north and west of the Columbia River and south of the Yakima Valley and lies within the vast Columbia Valley appellation. Horse Heaven Hills was established by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau {TTB), Treasury on June 30, 2005 after reviewing the petition filed by Paul D. Lucas on behalf of regional wine grape growers. Horse Heaven Hills viticultural area is about 60 miles (97 km) long and 22 miles (35 km) wide located 115 miles (185 km) east from Vancouver, Washington. The appellation encompasses 570,000 acres (891 sq mi) with about 6,400 acres (2,590 ha) under vine.

New York wine refers to wine made from grapes grown in the U.S. state of New York. New York ranks third in grape production by volume after California and Washington. 83% of New York's grape area is Vitis labrusca varieties. The rest is split almost equally between Vitis vinifera and French hybrids.

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

Temecula Valley is an American Viticultural Area (AVA) in the Temecula Valley, located in southwestern Riverside County, California against the eastern slopes of the Santa Ana Mountains. It was initially established by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), Treasury as "Temecula" on October 23, 1984 based on submitted petitions from by the Rancho Califomia/Temecula Winegrowers Association and Callaway Vineyard and Winery, Temecula, California in 1982. It was renamed "Temecula Valley" by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) in 2004, approving the 2001 petition by Temecula Valley Winegrowers Association. The petition stated the name change would provide a more accurate description of the Temecula geography and greater clarity as to its location for wine consumers and the public. The petition did not request any change to the established AVA boundaries. This was the first American Viticultural Area to change its name after the initial approval. Temecula Valley encompasses 33,000 acres (52 sq mi) and 5,000 acres (8 sq mi) is located in a "protected" area referred to as the Citrus/Vineyard Zone. This area is generally located in and around the Rancho California Road area with Riverside County. County guidelines strictly enforce the number of acres needed to build a winery, lodging and other limited housing and commercial ventures.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paso Robles AVA</span> Appelation that designates wine in San Luis Obispo County, California

Paso Robles is the third American Viticultural Area (AVA) located in San Luis Obispo (SLO) County, California. It was established by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), Treasury on November 3, 1983 based on a petition submitted by Martin Brothers Winery. The area encompasses 609,673 acres (953 sq mi) with approximately 18,500 acres (7,487 ha) cultivated with wine grapes known for their heritage varietal Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Rhône-style wines.

Arroyo Grande Valley is an American Viticultural Area (AVA) located in San Luis Obispo County, California approximately 12 miles (19 km) southeast of the county seat San Luis Obispo. Arroyo Grande Valley was recognized on February 5, 1990 by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) as the state's 60th AVA based on the petition filed in 1987 by Don Talley of Talley Vineyards and William S. Greenough of Saucelito Canyon Vineyard for the establishment of the "Arroyo Grande Valley" viticultural area in San Luis Obispo County. The 16 miles (26 km) long, approximately 67 square miles valley appellation benefits from its east-northeast orientation allowing the breeze from the Pacific Ocean to moderate the climate of the area. The valley is divided by a fog line produced by the cool maritime layer where Zinfandel, Petite Sirah and Rhône varietals are grown on the higher elevations near Lopez Lake and the cooler mid-valley vineyards being home to Chardonnay and Pinot noir. On April 8, 2022, the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) approved the designation of the expansive San Luis Obispo (SLO) Coast AVA overlapping the boundaries of Edna Valley and Arroyo Grande Valley viticultural areas because they share common features. However, these two previously established areas still have unique characteristics to retain their viticultural area distinctions within SLO Coast. Edna Valley lies immediately to the northwest, the Los Padres National Forest straddles the north leg boundary, the Santa Maria Valley AVA lies to the southeast of Arroyo Grande Valley, and the Pacific Ocean communities of Oceano, Grover City and Arroyo Grande abut its southwestern border.

Sierra Foothills is a vast American Viticultural Area (AVA) encompassing the foothill "belt" of the Sierra Nevada in north-central California, United States. It was established on December 18, 1987 by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), Treasury after evaluating the petition filed by the Sierra Foothills Winery Association of Somerset, California for the establishment of a "Sierra Foothills" viticultural area in portions of Yuba, Nevada, Placer, El Dorado, Amador, Calaveras, Tuolumne and Mariposa Counties. Wine grapes were introduced to the area in the nineteenth century during the California Gold Rush. Over 280 vineyards/wineries are located within its boundaries.

Lake Chelan is an American Viticultural Area (AVA) in Washington state. The appellation lies about 112 miles (180 km) northeast of Seattle located in north-central Washington's Lake Chelan Valley and is a sub-appellation of the vast Columbia Valley AVA. It lies east of the Puget Sound viticultural area and north or west of the other Washington State viticultural areas. It borders the Columbia Valley viticultural area on is eastern side and does not include any portion of other Washington viticultural areas except the Columbia Valley AVA.

The Upper Mississippi River Valley AVA is an American Viticultural Area covering 29,914 square miles located along the Upper Mississippi River and its tributaries in northwest Illinois, northeast Iowa, southeast Minnesota and southwest Wisconsin. Certified by the United States Department of the Treasury's Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau on July 22, 2009, it is the largest AVA in the United States. The AVA encompasses an area 50 times larger than the Bordeaux wine regions of France.

Naches Heights is an American Viticultural Area (AVA) in Yakima County, Washington. The AVA was recognized officially by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau {TTB), Treasury on January 13, 2012 after reviewing the petition submitted by R. Paul Beveridge, owner of Wilridge Winery and Vineyard, to establish the viticultural area named "Naches Heights." The AVA is located entirely within the vast Columbia Valley AVA with the city of Yakima to the southeast in a valley at a lower elevation. The Naches Heights appellation encompasses 13,254 acres (21 sq mi) and contains 105 acres (42 ha) of commercial vineyards either producing or expecting to produce wine grapes in the foreseeable future. Additionally, it is the first AVA in Washington state to be fully sustainable, with all 7 vineyards practicing in either biodynamic or LIVE certification. At the recognition date, only 37.2 acres (15 ha) were under vine, making the AVA the smallest planted wine region in Washington.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wisconsin Ledge AVA</span>

The Wisconsin Ledge AVA is an American Viticultural Area in northeast Wisconsin along the Niagara Escarpment in Door, Kewaunee, Manitowoc, Sheboygan, Ozaukee, Washington, Dodge, Fond du Lac, Calumet, Outagamie, and Brown counties. Certified by the United States Department of the Treasury's Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau on March 22, 2012, it covers an area of 3,800 sq mi (9,800 km²) and is the second AVA designation wholly in Wisconsin, following the Lake Wisconsin AVA established in 1994. The state's third is the gargantuan Upper Mississippi River Valley AVA which also covers land in Minnesota, Iowa and Illinois. After 7 long years, and 4000 hours, Steven J. DeBaker of Trout Springs Winery was granted his petition to the TTB for establishment of the Wisconsin Ledge AVA. It became the 203rd AVA in the US, including just under 2.5 million acres making it the 12th largest AVA in the US. Today, there are 24 bonded wineries that lie within the AVA with over 400 acres of vines planted.

The Rocks District of Milton-Freewater is an American Viticultural Area (AVA) in Umatilla County, Oregon that is a sub-appellation of the Walla Walla Valley AVA, and both lie within the vast Columbia Valley AVA. The appellation was established on March 11, 2015 by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB), Treasury after reviewing the petition submitted from Dr. Kevin R. Pogue, a professor of geology at Whitman College in Walla Walla, Washington, proposing the viticultural area called "The Rocks District of Milton-Freewater."

Tualatin Hills is an American Viticultural Area (AVA) located due west of Portland and just east from the Oregon Coast Range in the upland hills of the Tualatin River watershed and encompasses elevations between 200 and 1,000 feet. It was established on May 13, 2020 by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) after reviewing the petition from Rudolf Marchesi, president of Montinore Estate, Alfredo Apolloni, owner and winemaker of Apolloni Vineyards, and Mike Kuenz, general manager of David Hill Vineyard and Winery, on behalf of themselves and other local grape growers and vintners, proposing the establishment of the "Tualatin Hills" viticultural area in portions of Multnomah and Washington Counties. It lies entirely within the northernmost location of the Willamette Valley AVA in and around towns like Gaston, Forest Grove, Sherwood and Cornelius. To the south and southeast are the Chehalem Mountains with elevations of over 1,000 feet (300 m) and considered to be a separate, distinct landform from the uplands within Tualatin Hills. The region stretches over approximately 144,000 acres (225 sq mi) and contains 21 wineries with 33 commercially-producing vineyards that covers approximately 860.5 acres (348 ha). The distinguishing features of Tualatin Hills are its soils, elevation, and climate.

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.

San Luis Obispo Coast and SLO Coast identify the sixteenth American Viticultural Area (AVA) within San Luis Obispo County, California. It was established by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB), Treasury on April 8, 2022, becoming the state's 143rd official AVA. The area encompasses over 480,585 acres (750.914 sq mi) nestled between the Santa Lucia mountains and the Pacific coastline stretching about 70 miles (110 km) from Ragged Point southbound on the Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) and Highway 101 to the outskirts of Santa Maria at the intersection of State Highway 166 and Highway 101. It includes the coastal communities of San Simeon, Cambria, Cayucos, Morro Bay, Avila Beach, Pismo Beach, Arroyo Grande and Nipomo while encompassing the county seat of San Luis Obispo. The TTB approved the petition's two names, "San Luis Obispo Coast" and "SLO Coast", to identify the viticultural area's description and wine labeling. The term "SLO" is a historical and commonly used reference for the county and city initials as well as a description of the region's relaxed culture. The new AVA overlaps the previously established Edna Valley and Arroyo Grande Valley viticultural areas. There are over 50 wineries and an estimated 78 commercial vineyards cultivating approximately 3,942 acres (1,595 ha) with a majority of the vineyards located within 6 miles (9.7 km) of the Pacific Ocean defining an area whose grapes and wines represent it. Cool weather varietals like Pinot Noir and Chardonnay are commonly grown while lesser varietals Sauvignon Blanc, Gewürztraminer and Gruner Veltliner also thrive.

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.

The Burn of Columbia Valley is an American Viticultural Area (AVA) located within Klickitat County in south-central Washington on the north banks of the Columbia River along the Oregon state border. The Burn of Columbia Valley was established by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau {TTB), Treasury on July 17, 2021, after reviewing a petition received from Kevin Corliss, Vice President of Vineyards for Ste. Michelle Wine Estates, Joan R. Davenport, Professor of Soil Sciences at Washington State University, and John Derrick, Vice President of Operations for Mercer Ranches, Inc., proposing “The Burn of Columbia Valley” viticultural area. The appellation, known colloquially as “The Burn,” encompasses about 16,870 acres (26 sq mi) where 3 commercial vineyards cultivate approximately 1,261 acres (510 ha) as many Washington wineries source grapes from here. The state's 18th AVA lies entirely within the vast Columbia Valley appellation and stands alone between the Columbia Gorge and the Horse Heaven Hills viticultural areas. The distinguishing features of The Burn of Columbia Valley are its soils, climate, and topography.

Royal Slope is an American Viticultural Area (AVA) located within Adams and Grant Counties in central Washington state. Royal Slope is the state's 15th appellation recognized by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau {TTB), Treasury on October 2, 2020, after reviewing the petition submitted by Alan Busacca, a licensed geologist and founder of Vinitas Vineyard Consultants, LLC, on behalf of the Royal Slope Wine Grower's Association, proposing the viticultural area named “Royal Slope.” The AVA lies between the Quincy Basin and Saddle Mountains surrounding the town of Royal City encompassing 156,389 acres (244 sq mi) entirely within the vast Columbia Valley AVA. There are currently 13 producing commercial vineyards cultivating approximately 14,100 acres (5,706 ha) with only one winery. According to the petition, the distinguishing features of the Royal Slope AVA are its climate, topography, geology, and soils.

References

↑ TTB pending Petitions
↑ Code of Federal Regulations AVA
↑ Upper Hudson AVA Final Ruling
↑ "What the Wine Label Tells You" (PDF). TTB. 2016. Retrieved 11 November 2016.
↑ NYS Senate Bill
1 2 USDA Plant Hardiness Zones
1 2 Isachsen, Y.W.; Landing, E.; Lauber, J.M.; Rickard, V.; Rogers, W.B. (2000). "Geology of New York: A Simplified Account" (PDF). The New York State Geological Survey. New York State Museum . Retrieved 2016-12-10..
↑ "Geological History of the Adirondacks

External links

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[petition-1] TTB pending Petitions

[code-2] Code of Federal Regulations AVA

[Upper_Hudson_Final_Ruling-3] Upper Hudson AVA Final Ruling

[4] "What the Wine Label Tells You" (PDF). TTB. 2016. Retrieved 11 November 2016.

[Upper_Hudson_Legilsation-5] NYS Senate Bill

[USDA_Plant_Hardiness_Zones-6] 1 2 USDA Plant Hardiness Zones

[NYS_Geology-7] 1 2 Isachsen, Y.W.; Landing, E.; Lauber, J.M.; Rickard, V.; Rogers, W.B. (2000). "Geology of New York: A Simplified Account" (PDF). The New York State Geological Survey. New York State Museum . Retrieved 2016-12-10..

[Geologic_History_of_the_Adirondaks-8] "Geological History of the Adirondacks

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