Shenandoah Valley AVA

The Shenandoah Valley AVA is an American Viticultural Area located in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia and West Virginia. The valley is bounded by the Blue Ridge Mountains to the east and the Appalachian and Allegheny Plateaus to the west. Most of the AVA is in Virginia, with a small portion in the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia. Most of the vineyards in the AVA are located in Virginia and grow a wide variety of Vitis vinifera, Vitis labrusca, and French hybrid grapes.[2] The hardiness zone is mainly 6b except for some 7a closer to the mouth of the Shenandoah.

Not to be confused with California Shenandoah Valley AVA.
Shenandoah Valley AVA
Wine region
TypeAmerican Viticultural Area
Year established1982, amended 1987[1]
CountryUnited States
Part ofVirginia, West Virginia
Climate regionHumid subtropical/maritime/continental
Precipitation (annual average)33 inches (84 cm)[2]
Total area2,400,000 acres (971,246 ha)[3]
Grapes producedCabernet Franc, Chambourcin, Chardonnay, Gewurztraminer, Riesling, Traminette, Viognier,[2] Norton, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot

The region is Virginia's first AVA, identified in 1982.[4] Limestone soil, which is common to the Valley, has been long associated with great wine growing regions in Europe.[5] The Shenandoah Valley AVA's climate allows grapes to attain higher acidity, generally regarded as good in wine.[6] The cooler, relatively dry climate, soil composition and position between two mountain chains makes the Shenandoah Valley more ideal for viticulture than any of the state's other regions.[7][8][9] The Shenandoah Valley is relatively dry, a "rain shadow" between the Blue Ridge and Allegheny Mountains;[10] the annual rainfall in the Valley is one half that of the Virginia average.[11] The growing season in the valley is distinctly warmer and drier than in neighboring Virginia regions, which don't have the natural rain barrier from the nearby mountains[11] and where, east of the Blue Ridge, vineyard soils are primarily clay and loam.[4][12] The conditions in the Shenandoah Valley AVA are thus more hospitable than those east of the mountains for Cabernet Franc, Chambourcin, Cabernet Sauvignon, Lemberger, Petit Manseng, Petit Verdot, Pinot Noir, and Riesling.[6][13]

List of Producers

Wine producers in the AVA include: (from north to south) Veramar Vineyard,[14] James Charles Winery & Vineyard,[15] Valerie Hill Vineyard & Winery,[16] Wicked Oak Farms & Vineyard,[17] Cedar Creek Winery,[18] North Mountain Vineyard & Winery,[19] Muse Vineyards,[20] Shenandoah Vineyards,[21] Wolf Gap Vineyard,[22] Cave Ridge Vineyard,[23] The Winery at Kindred Pointe,[24] DeMello Vineyards,[25] Old Hill Cidery,[26] Wisteria Farm & Vineyard,[27] CrossKeys Vineyards,[28] Bluestone Vineyard,[29] Barren Ridge Vineyards,[30] Ox-Eye Vineyards,[31] Above Ground Winery,[32] Hunt's Vineyard,[33] Rockbridge Vineyard,[34] Jump Mountain Vineyard,[35] Lexington Valley Vineyard[36] and Blue Ridge Vineyard.[37]

References
  1. Code of Federal Regulations. "§ 9.60 Shenandoah 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. 1, 2008.
  2. Appellation America (2007). "Shenandoah Valley (VA) (AVA): Appellation Description". Retrieved Jan. 30, 2008.
  3. Wine Institute, The (2008). "American Viticultural Areas by State". Retrieved Feb. 1, 2008.
  4. "The Wines of Virginia - Camille Berry - Articles - GuildSomm". www.guildsomm.com.
  5. "Why Limestone Matters for Wine Grape Growing". Tablas Creek Vineyard Blog.
  6. "Growing interest: Shenandoah Valley's unique climate spurs its wine resurgence". September 26, 2018.
  7. https://www.easternwinetourist.com/virginia-shenandoah-valley/2019/3/21/shenandoah-vineyards?rq=Shenandoah%20Vineyards
  8. "Explore wine country in Virginia's scenic Shenandoah Valley". The Seattle Times. October 30, 2017.
  9. "Shenandoah Valley Wineries". www.americanwineryguide.com.
  10. "Climate of Virginia". www.virginiaplaces.org.
  11. "Shenandoah Valley - Virginia Wine Region". Wine-Searcher.
  12. "Rising American Wine Regions to Know". SevenFifty Daily. September 27, 2018.
  13. Williams, Megan. "The News Leader". The News Leader.
  14. "Veramar Vineyard". veramar.com. Retrieved 2016-03-15.
  15. "James Charles Winery". jamescharleswine.com. Retrieved 2016-03-15.
  16. "Valerie Hill Winery". www.valeriehillwinery.com. Retrieved 2016-03-15.
  17. "Wicked Oak Farms & Vineyard". www.wickedoakfarms.com. Retrieved 2016-03-15.
  18. "Cedar Creek Winery LLC". www.cedarcreekvineyard.com. Retrieved 2016-03-15.
  19. "North Mountain Vineyard & Winery". www.northmountainvineyard.com. Retrieved 2016-03-15.
  20. "Muse Vineyards". www.musevineyards.com. Retrieved 2016-03-15.
  21. "Shenandoah Vineyards". www.shenandoahvineyardsva.com. Retrieved 2016-03-15.
  22. Willie, Wolf Gap. "Wolf Gap Vineyard and Winery Home page". www.wolfgapvineyard.com. Retrieved 2016-03-15.
  23. "Cave Ridge Vineyard & Winery". Cave Ridge Vineyard. Retrieved 2016-03-15.
  24. "Kindred Pointe". Kindred Pointe. Retrieved 2016-03-15.
  25. "De Mello Vineyards". De Mello Vineyards. Retrieved 2016-03-15.
  26. "Old Hill Hard Cider". Hard Cider Shenandoah Valley - Old Hill Hard Cider - Located in Timberville, VA. Retrieved 2016-03-15.
  27. "Wisteria Vineyard". www.wisteriavineyard.com. Retrieved 2016-03-15.
  28. "CrossKeys Vineyards". www.crosskeysvineyards.com. Retrieved 2016-03-15.
  29. "Bluestone Vineyard". Bluestone Vineyard. Retrieved 2016-03-15.
  30. Higgs, John. "Barren ridge vineyards".
  31. "Ox-Eye Vineyards". Ox-Eye Vineyards. Retrieved 2016-03-15.
  32. "Above Ground Winery". Above Ground Winery. Retrieved 2016-03-15.
  33. "Hunt's Vineyard". Hunt's Vineyard. Retrieved 2016-03-15.
  34. "Rockbridge Vineyard". www.rockbridgevineyard.com. Retrieved 2016-03-15.
  35. "Jump Mountain Vineyard". www.virginiawine.org. Retrieved 2016-03-15.
  36. "Lexington Valley Vineyard". www.lexingtonvalleyvineyard.com. Retrieved 2016-03-15.
  37. "Blue Ridge Vineyard". www.blueridgevineyard.com. Retrieved 2016-03-15.


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