Wine region | |
Type | American Viticultural Area |
---|---|
Year established | 2009[1] |
Years of wine industry | 126 |
Country | United States |
Part of | North Carolina |
Other regions in North Carolina | Yadkin Valley AVA, Swan Creek AVA, Upper Hiwassee Highlands AVA, , Appalachian High Country AVA, Crest of the Blue Ridge Henderson County AVA |
Growing season | 214 days[1] |
Climate region | Region IV & V[2] |
Precipitation (annual average) | 45.27 in (1,149.86 mm) snow: 5.9 in (149.9 mm)[3] |
Soil conditions | Saprolite, weathered from igneous, intermediate and mafic intrusive rocks, felsic and intermediate volcanic rocks[3] |
Total area | 868 sq mi (555,520 acres)[1] |
Size of planted vineyards | 60 acres (24 ha)[1] |
No. of vineyards | 40[1] |
Grapes produced | Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Syrah, Tempranillo, Valdepenas, Muscadine[4] |
No. of wineries | 6[1] |
Haw River Valley is an American Viticultural Area (AVA) officially becoming the 3rd appellation in North Carolina after the establishments of Yadkin Valley and Swan Creek viticultural areas within the Yadkin Valley region. The area was recognized on April 29, 2009 by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB), Treasury after reviewing the petition submitted by Patricia McRitchie of McRitchie Associates, LLC, on behalf of its local grape growers and winemakers.[2] Haw River Valley viticultural area covers the northern, central portion of the state encompassing 868 square miles (555,520 acres) centered around the city of Burlington and bisected by the Haw River. The appellation expands across all or portions of Alamance, Caswell, Chatham, Guilford, Orange, and Rockingham Counties being accessible between the state's largest metropolitan areas of Greensboro to the west, and Durham-Raleigh to the east on Interstate 40.[1]