As of July 2003, there are approximately170 American Viticultural Areas (AVA's) in the United States. AVA's are designated and controlled by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau, a division of the US Treasury Department. Only wines that derive 85% or more of their content from within a designated AVA may use the name of that AVA to label the wine. In addition the wine's labeling is subject to any state regulations that may be in effect for that AVA. For instance, any sub-region of the Napa Valley AVA in California, must display "Napa Valley" on the label in addition to the sub-region (size and specifics can be found at California Business and Professions Code Section 25240. Below is a list of all approved US AVA's as of July 2003. Some of them have links to sections in this site, and some of them don't. This is a large task and at some point we hope to have detailed information on every US AVA (as well as hands on, personal knowledge).
-JG modified on 2/11/04
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Some of the most popular AVA's exist in California. Napa Valley AVA, Sonoma Valley AVA, and Rutherford AVA all exist in California. But, what most people don't know is that American Viticultural Areas exist in many states across the country; some AVA's even cross the borders of multiple states. Perhaps the most interesting fact about AVA's is that the largest AVA's exist far away from the shores of the Pacific Ocean. As of this writing, the Ohio River Valley AVA is the largest AVA in the United States with 16,640,000 acres! That is almost 75 times the size of the Napa Valley AVA.
The bottom line is that AVA's are not easy to come by. Applications, research, soils tests and petitions are just some of what is involved...oh yeah and money (somewhere around $15,000 for the application). An AVA does not guarantee the quality of a particular wine, but rather where 85% or more of the grapes were grown.
-JG modified on 2/11/04
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Estate Bottling Designation
ATF regulations permit wineries to use the term "Estate Bottled" to designate "combined growing and production conditions". Some of the requirements are that the bottling winery, and the vineyards where all of the grapes are grown, are located in the same viticultural area (AVA). That the winery own or control the vineyards where the grapes are grown, and that the wine be produced in one continuous process (the wine at no time having left the premises of the bottling winery).
There are certain circumstances where the winery and their vineyards are on located in the same AVA. In these cases, the ATF has allowed wineries to use other designations, but not "Estate Bottled".
-JG modified on 2/11/04 |
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Here is a current list of AVA's (as of this writing) in the United States. Some of the American Viticultural Areas listed are linked to sections with more detail on that particular AVA. If you would like to "adopt" a particular AVA, let us know via our contact page.
|
AVA |
State |
Size in Acres |
Creation Date |
| Sonoita |
Arizona |
208000 |
11/26/1984 |
| Altus |
Arkansas |
12800 |
6/29/1984 |
| Ozark Mountain [AR,MO,OK] |
Arkansas |
3520000 |
8/1/1986 |
| Arkansas Mountain |
Arkansas |
2880000 |
10/27/1986 |
| Northern Sonoma |
California |
348000 |
9/25/1986 |
| Mendocino |
California |
275200 |
7/16/1984 |
| Mendocino Ridge |
California |
87466 |
12/26/1997 |
| Merritt Island |
California |
5000 |
2/27/1987 |
| Alexander Valley |
California |
32536 |
6/13/1988 |
| Central Coast |
California |
1000000 |
11/25/1985 |
| Mount Harlan |
California |
7440 |
12/17/1990 |
| Mount Veeder |
California |
15000 |
3/22/1990 |
| Napa Valley |
California |
225280 |
1/1/1983 |
| North Coast |
California |
3008000 |
10/21/1983 |
| Ben Lomond |
California |
38400 |
1/8/1988 |
| Clarksburg |
California |
64640 |
2/22/1984 |
| Madera |
California |
230000 |
1/7/1985 |
| Monterey |
California |
35758 |
7/16/1984 |
| Carmel Valley |
California |
19200 |
1/13/1983 |
| Pacheco Pass |
California |
3200 |
4/11/1984 |
| Paicines |
California |
4500 |
9/15/1982 |
| Paso Robles |
California |
666618 |
11/3/1983 |
| Potter Valley |
California |
27500 |
11/14/1983 |
| California Shenandoah Valley |
California |
10000 |
2/27/1987 |
| Benmore Valley |
California |
1440 |
11/18/1991 |
| Redwood Valley |
California |
22400 |
2/21/1997 |
| River Junction |
California |
1300 |
7/9/2001 |
| North Yuba |
California |
22400 |
8/30/1985 |
| Fiddletown |
California |
11500 |
11/3/1983 |
| Clear Lake |
California |
168960 |
6/7/1984 |
| Cole Ranch |
California |
150 |
5/16/1983 |
| Cienega Valley |
California |
0 |
9/20/1982 |
| Cucamonga Valley |
California |
109400 |
5/1/1995 |
| Diablo Grande |
California |
30000 |
8/21/1998 |
| Diamond Mountain District |
California |
5000 |
7/31/2001 |
| Dry Creek Valley |
California |
80000 |
9/6/1983 |
| Dunnigan Hills |
California |
89000 |
6/14/1993 |
| Edna Valley |
California |
22400 |
6/11/1987 |
| El Dorado |
California |
416 |
11/14/1983 |
| McDowell Valley |
California |
540 |
2/27/1987 |
| Fair Play |
California |
21120 |
4/27/2001 |
| Malibu-Newton Canyon |
California |
850 |
6/13/1996 |
| Chalone |
California |
8540 |
7/14/1982 |
| Guenoc Valley |
California |
4396 |
12/21/1981 |
| Hames Valley |
California |
10240 |
4/25/1994 |
| Howell Mountain |
California |
14080 |
1/30/1984 |
| Chalk Hill |
California |
22400 |
6/13/1988 |
| Knights Valley |
California |
36240 |
11/21/1983 |
| Lime Kiln Valley |
California |
2300 |
7/6/1982 |
| Livermore Valley |
California |
96000 |
10/1/1982 |
| Lodi |
California |
458000 |
3/17/1986 |
| Los Carneros |
California |
0 |
9/19/1987 |
| Oakville |
California |
5760 |
8/2/1993 |
| Chiles Valley |
California |
6000 |
4/19/1999 |
| Rockpile |
California |
15400 |
4/29/2002 |
| Atlas Peak |
California |
11400 |
2/24/1992 |
| Sierra Foothills |
California |
2600000 |
12/18/1987 |
| Sonoma County Green Valley |
California |
32000 |
12/21/1983 |
| Sonoma Coast |
California |
480000 |
7/13/1987 |
| Temecula |
California |
33000 |
2/7/1986 |
| Arroyo Grande Valley |
California |
42880 |
2/5/1990 |
| Wild Horse Valley |
California |
3300 |
12/30/1988 |
| Sonoma Mountain |
California |
5000 |
2/22/1985 |
| Seiad Valley |
California |
2160 |
6/20/1994 |
| South Coast |
California |
115200 |
12/23/1985 |
| Solano County Green Valley |
California |
2560 |
1/28/1983 |
| Yountville |
California |
8260 |
5/18/1999 |
| Spring Mountain District |
California |
8600 |
6/14/1993 |
| Stags Leap District |
California |
2700 |
2/27/1989 |
| Suisun Valley |
California |
15360 |
12/27/1982 |
| Yorkville Highlands |
California |
40000 |
6/8/1998 |
| York Mountain |
California |
9360 |
2/27/1987 |
| Willow Creek |
California |
6000 |
9/19/1983 |
| Arroyo Seco |
California |
18240 |
5/16/1983 |
| Sonoma Valley |
California |
4000 |
1/24/1982 |
| San Benito |
California |
45000 |
11/4/1987 |
| San Ysidro District |
California |
2340 |
12/17/1990 |
| Anderson Valley |
California |
600 |
9/19/1983 |
| San Pasqual Valley |
California |
9000 |
9/16/1981 |
| San Lucas |
California |
33920 |
3/2/1987 |
| Santa Ynez Valley |
California |
76800 |
5/16/1983 |
| San Francisco Bay |
California |
1566713 |
3/22/1999 |
| Santa Cruz Mountains |
California |
0 |
1/4/1982 |
| Santa Clara Valley |
California |
332800 |
4/27/1989 |
| Saint Helena |
California |
9060 |
10/11/1995 |
| Santa Maria Valley |
California |
80000 |
9/4/1981 |
| Russian River Valley |
California |
96000 |
11/21/1983 |
| Rutherford |
California |
6650 |
8/2/1993 |
| Santa Rita Hills |
California |
30720 |
7/30/2001 |
| Capay Valley |
California |
102400 |
2/18/2003 |
| Santa Lucia Highlands |
California |
22000 |
6/15/1992 |
| West Elks |
Colorado |
48000 |
5/7/2001 |
| Grand Valley |
Colorado |
32000 |
12/26/1991 |
| Western Connecticut Highlands |
Connecticut |
1004550 |
3/10/1988 |
| Southeastern New England [CT,MA,RI] |
Connecticut |
1875200 |
4/27/1984 |
| Ohio River Valley [IN,KY,OH,WV] |
Indiana |
16640000 |
2/27/1987 |
| Ohio River Valley [IN,KY,OH,WV] |
Kentucky |
16640000 |
2/27/1987 |
| Mississippi Delta [LA,MS,TN] |
Louisiana |
3840000 |
10/1/1984 |
| Cumberland Valley [MD,PA] |
Maryland |
765000 |
8/26/1985 |
| Catoctin |
Maryland |
170000 |
2/27/1987 |
| Linganore |
Maryland |
57600 |
9/19/1983 |
| Southeastern New England [CT,MA,RI] |
Massachusetts |
1875200 |
4/27/1984 |
| Martha's Vineyard |
Massachusetts |
64000 |
2/4/1985 |
| Leelanau Peninsula |
Michigan |
211200 |
4/29/1982 |
| Old Mission Peninsula |
Michigan |
19200 |
7/8/1987 |
| Lake Michigan Shore |
Michigan |
1280000 |
11/14/1983 |
| Fennville |
Michigan |
75000 |
10/19/1981 |
| Mississippi Delta [LA,MS,TN] |
Mississippi |
3840000 |
10/1/1984 |
| Ozark Highlands |
Missouri |
1280000 |
9/30/1987 |
| Hermann |
Missouri |
51200 |
2/27/1987 |
| Augusta |
Missouri |
0 |
6/20/1980 |
| Ozark Mountain [AR,MO,OK] |
Missouri |
3520000 |
8/1/1986 |
| Warren Hills |
New Jersey |
144640 |
9/7/1988 |
| Central Delaware Valley [NJ,PA] |
New Jersey |
96000 |
2/27/1987 |
| Middle Rio Grande Valley |
New Mexico |
278400 |
3/3/1988 |
| Mimbres Valley |
New Mexico |
636800 |
12/23/1985 |
| Mesilla Valley [NM,TX] |
New Mexico |
284800 |
3/18/1985 |
| Lake Erie [NY,OH,PA] |
New York |
2236800 |
11/21/1983 |
| Finger Lakes |
New York |
8400 |
2/27/1987 |
| Hudson River Region |
New York |
224000 |
7/6/1982 |
| Long Island |
New York |
749146 |
7/16/2001 |
| Hamptons, Long Island, The |
New York |
136448 |
6/17/1985 |
| North Fork of Long Island |
New York |
101440 |
11/10/1986 |
| Cayuga Lake |
New York |
460 |
4/25/1988 |
| Seneca Lake |
New York |
204600 |
9/2/2003 |
| Yadkin Valley |
North Carolina |
1231000 |
2/7/2003 |
| Grand River Valley |
Ohio |
125000 |
11/21/1983 |
| Isle St. George |
Ohio |
640 |
9/20/1982 |
| Kanawha River Valley [OH,WV] |
Ohio |
64000 |
5/8/1986 |
| Lake Erie [NY,OH,PA] |
Ohio |
2236800 |
11/21/1983 |
| Ohio River Valley [IN,KY,OH,WV] |
Ohio |
16640000 |
2/27/1987 |
| Loramie Creek |
Ohio |
3600 |
12/27/1982 |
| Ozark Mountain [AR,MO,OK] |
Oklahoma |
3520000 |
8/1/1986 |
| Applegate Valley |
Oregon |
0 |
2/12/2001 |
| Umpqua Valley |
Oregon |
768000 |
4/30/1984 |
| Williamette Valley |
Oregon |
3300000 |
1/3/1984 |
| Walla Walla Valley [OR,WA] |
Oregon |
178560 |
2/27/1987 |
| Columbia Valley [OR,WA] |
Oregon |
1152000 |
2/27/1987 |
| Rogue Valley |
Oregon |
0 |
2/22/1991 |
| Lake Erie [NY,OH,PA] |
Pennsylvania |
2236800 |
11/21/1983 |
| Lancaster Valley |
Pennsylvania |
225000 |
6/11/1982 |
| Central Delaware Valley [NJ,PA] |
Pennsylvania |
96000 |
2/27/1987 |
| Cumberland Valley [MD,PA] |
Pennsylvania |
765000 |
8/26/1985 |
| Southeastern New England [CT,MA,RI] |
Rhode Island |
1875200 |
4/27/1984 |
| Mississippi Delta [LA,MS,TN] |
Tennessee |
3840000 |
10/1/1984 |
| Escondido Valley |
Texas |
32000 |
6/15/1992 |
| Fredericksburg in the Texas Hill Country |
Texas |
70400 |
1/23/1989 |
| Bell Mountain |
Texas |
3200 |
11/10/1986 |
| Mesilla Valley [NM,TX] |
Texas |
284800 |
3/18/1985 |
| Texas High Plains |
Texas |
2000 |
4/1/1993 |
| Texas Davis Mountains |
Texas |
270000 |
5/11/1998 |
| Texas Hill Country |
Texas |
9600000 |
12/30/1991 |
| North Fork of Roanoke |
Virginia |
0 |
2/27/1987 |
| Shenandoah Valley [VA,WV] |
Virginia |
2400000 |
2/27/1987 |
| Monticello |
Virginia |
800000 |
2/22/1984 |
| Northern Neck George Washington Birthplace |
Virginia |
590080 |
5/21/1987 |
| Rocky Knob |
Virginia |
9000 |
2/27/1987 |
| Virginia's Eastern Shore |
Virginia |
436480 |
2/1/1991 |
| Walla Walla Valley [OR,WA] |
Washington |
178560 |
2/27/1987 |
| Yakima Valley |
Washington |
665600 |
5/4/1983 |
| Puget Sound |
Washington |
5536000 |
10/4/1995 |
| Columbia Valley [OR,WA] |
Washington |
1152000 |
2/27/1987 |
| Red Mountain |
Washington |
4040 |
6/11/2001 |
| Shenandoah Valley [VA,WV] |
West Virginia |
2400000 |
2/27/1987 |
| Ohio River Valley [IN,KY,OH,WV] |
West Virginia |
16640000 |
2/27/1987 |
| Kanawha River Valley [OH,WV] |
West Virginia |
64000 |
5/8/1986 |
| Lake Wisconsin |
Wisconsin |
28000 |
2/4/1994 |
-JG modified on 2/11/04
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