Lake Chelan AVA

Lake Chelan
Wine region
Lake Chelan
Year established2009[1]
Years of wine industry133[1]
CountryUnited States
Part ofWashington, Columbia Valley AVA
Other regions in Washington, Columbia Valley AVAAncient Lakes of Columbia Valley AVA, Candy Mountain AVA, Goose Gap AVA, Horse Heaven Hills AVA, Naches Heights AVA, Rattlesnake Hills AVA, Red Mountain AVA, Rocky Reach AVA, Royal Slope AVA, Snipes Mountain AVA, The Burn of Columbia Valley AVA, Wahluke Slope AVA, Walla Walla Valley AVA, White Bluffs AVA, Yakima Valley AVA
Soil conditionsLayers of glacial debris, stream erosion, airborne volcanic & non-volcanic sediment, sand, fine gravel-sized pumice & loam[1]
Total area24,040 acres (38 sq mi)[1]
Size of planted vineyards260 acres (105 ha)[2]
Grapes producedSyrah, Merlot, Malbec, Riesling, Pinot Gris, Gewürztraminer, and Chardonnay[2]
No. of wineries16[2]

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.[1]

Lake Chelan encompasses 24,040 acres (38 sq mi) in the southern and eastern portions of the valley and the surrounding Cascade foothills suitable for viticulture. As of 2009, only 260 acres (105 ha) were cultivated producing wine for fifteen wineries. While viticulture has existed in the region since 1891, the area was established as a federally designated wine region by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau {TTB), Treasury on May 29, 2009 as the state's 11th AVA. The petition to TTB was submitted by Alan J. Busacca, PhD, a geologist licensed in Washington State and a nationally certified professional soil scientist with Vinitas Vineyard Consultants, on behalf of the Lake Chelan Wine Growers Association to establish a registered viticultural area named "Lake Chelan."[1]

  1. ^ a b c d e f "Establishment of the Lake Chelan Viticultural Area (2007R-103P)" (27 CFR 9 [TTB Docket No. 2008–0006; T.D. TTB–76; Re: Notice No. 87] RIN 1513–AB42 Final Rule). Federal Register. 74 (81). Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB), Treasury: 19409–19416. April 29, 2009. Archived (PDF) from the original on April 18, 2023.Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  2. ^ a b c "Lake Chelan (AVA): Appellation Profile". Appellation America. 2007. Archived from the original on March 8, 2016.