The first American Viticultural Area (AVA) was Augusta, Missouri, designated in 1980. An American Viticultural Area is a specific grape growing region defined by law based on territory and climatic features. There are currently 280 AVAs in the United States, the largest being Upper Mississippi River Valley with 30,000 square miles while the smallest is Hawaii's Ulupalakua, with just 0.11 square miles. For an AVA to be listed on the wine label, a minimum of 85% of the grapes must be sourced from that specific region. More than half of all the AVAs in the United States are in California, with 154 official AVAs.
Click here to see Ponzi from Laurelwood District AVA, in Oregon, El Molino Chardonnay from Rutherford AVA in California, and Domaine Ste. Michelle Brut Rose from Columbia Valley AVA, in Washington.
Author: Maytte Rivera
