Wine region | |
Type | American Viticultural Area |
---|---|
Year established | 1985, amended in 1987[1] |
Country | United States |
Part of | Maryland, Pennsylvania |
Climate region | Continental/humid subtropical near the rivers |
Soil conditions | Karst |
Total area | 765,000 acres (309,585 ha)[2] |
Size of planted vineyards | 100 acres (40 ha)[3] |
The Cumberland Valley AVA is an American Viticultural Area located in Washington County in west-central Maryland and Franklin and Cumberland counties in south-central Pennsylvania. Only 100 acres (40 ha) of the 765,000 acres (309,585 ha) included in the wine appellation are planted to grapevines, predominantly on high terraces over the Potomac River and on the slopes of South Mountain. The soil in the area is alkaline limestone.[3] The Cumberland Valley mainly has a hot-summer humid continental climate (Dfa) and is mainly in hardiness zone 7a with 6b in some higher areas.[4] The AVA extends from the Potomac to the Susquehanna River.