An American Viticultural Area (AVA) is a designated appellation for American wine in the United States distinguishable by geographic, geologic, and climatic features, with boundaries defined by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) of the United States Department of the Treasury.[1] As of May 2024, there are 273 recognized AVAs in 34 states[2]—several of which are shared by two or more states. Over half (152) of the AVAs are in California.

American Viticultural Areas range in size from the Upper Mississippi River Valley AVA at 29,900 square miles (77,000 km2) across four states, to the Cole Ranch AVA in Mendocino County, California, at only 62 acres (25 ha). The Augusta AVA near the town of Augusta, Missouri, was the first recognized AVA, gaining the status on June 20, 1980.[3]

Arizona

See also: Arizona wine

Arkansas

See also: Arkansas wine

California

See also: California wine
General locations of California's wine regions.

Cascade Foothills

These AVAs are located in far northern California, east of Redding.

Central Coast and Santa Cruz Mountains

All of these AVAs are included in the geographic boundaries of the Central Coast AVA with the exceptions of Ben Lomond Mountain AVA and Santa Cruz Mountains AVA, which are surrounded by, but are specifically excluded from, the larger regional AVA.

Central Valley

Unlike other regions of California, there is no large regional AVA designation that includes the entire Central Valley wine growing region.

Klamath Mountains

These AVAs are located in the southern Klamath Mountains of far northwestern California.

North Coast

All of these AVAs are included within the geographic boundaries of the six-county North Coast AVA.

Sierra Foothills

All of these AVAs are contained entirely within the geographic boundaries of the Sierra Foothills AVA.

South Coast

Colorado

See also: Colorado wine

Connecticut

See also: Connecticut wine

Georgia

See also: Georgia (U.S. state) wine

Hawaii

See also: Hawaii wine

Idaho

See also: Idaho wine

Illinois

See also: Illinois wine

Indiana

See also: Indiana wine

Iowa

See also: Iowa wine

Kentucky

See also: Kentucky wine

Louisiana

See also: Louisiana wine

Maryland

See also: Maryland wine

Massachusetts

See also: Massachusetts wine

Michigan

The four American Viticultural Areas (AVAs) in Michigan.

See also: Michigan wine

Minnesota

See also: Minnesota wine

Mississippi

See also: Mississippi wine

Missouri

See also: Missouri wine

New Jersey

See also: New Jersey wine

New Mexico

See also: New Mexico wine

New York

See also: New York wine

North Carolina

See also: North Carolina wine

Ohio

See also: Ohio wine

Oklahoma

See also: Oklahoma wine

Oregon

See also: Oregon wine
Oregon Viticultural Areas
Oregon map featuring 19 AVAs as of January 2019 courtesy of the Oregon Wine Board

Pennsylvania

See also: Pennsylvania wine

Rhode Island

See also: Rhode Island wine

Tennessee

See also: Tennessee wine

Texas

See also: Texas wine

Virginia

See also: Virginia wine

Washington

See also: Washington wine

West Virginia

See also: West Virginia wine

Wisconsin

See also: Wisconsin wine

References

  1. ^ "Wine Appellations of Origin". TTB.gov. U.S. Department of the Treasury. Archived from the original on November 14, 2020. Retrieved February 16, 2013.
  2. ^ "Established American Viticultural Areas". TTB.gov. Tax and Trade Bureau. Retrieved May 15, 2024.
  3. ^ Code of Federal Regulations, 27 C.F.R §9.22 27 C.F.R §9.22
  4. ^ "Establishment of the Lamorinda Viticultural Area". Federal Register. February 24, 2016.
  5. ^ Swindell, Bill (February 24, 2015). "Fountaingrove becomes newest appellation in Sonoma County". Press-Democrat. Santa Rosa, California. Retrieved March 4, 2015.
  6. ^ "Petaluma Gap becomes new Sonoma County wine appellation". Press-Democrat. Santa Rosa, California. Retrieved December 8, 2017.
  7. ^ "Pending Petitions". Tax & Trade Bureau.
  8. ^ Ganchiff, Mark. "Wisconsin Ledge AVA approved". Midwest Wine Press. Retrieved April 7, 2012.
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