Shenandoah Valley AVA

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
Other regions in Virginia, West VirginiaMiddleburg AVA, Monticello AVA, North Fork of Roanoke AVA, Northern Neck George Washington Birthplace AVA, Rocky Knob AVA, Virginia's Eastern Shore AVA
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 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 7a except for some 6b in high areas.

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] The Shenandoah Valley is relatively dry, a "rain shadow" between the Blue Ridge and Allegheny Mountains;[9] the annual rainfall in the Valley is one half that of the Virginia average.[10] 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[10] and where, east of the Blue Ridge, vineyard soils are primarily clay and loam.[4][11] 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][12]

  1. ^ "§ 9.60 Shenandoah Valley" (Title 27: Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms; Part 9 — American Viticultural Areas; Subpart C — Approved American Viticultural Areas). Code of Federal Regulations. February 27, 1987.
  2. ^ a b c "Shenandoah Valley (VA) (AVA): Appellation Profile". Appellation America. 2007. Archived from the original on September 2, 2013. Retrieved January 30, 2008.
  3. ^ "American Viticultural Areas by State". Wine Institute. 2008. Archived from the original on January 27, 2008.
  4. ^ a b Berry, Camille (September 6, 2016). "The Wines of Virginia" (Articles). GuildSomm.
  5. ^ "Why Limestone Matters for Wine Grape Growing". Tablas Creek Vineyard Blog. May 26, 2010.
  6. ^ a b Scala, Erin (September 26, 2018). "Growing interest: Shenandoah Valley's unique climate spurs its wine resurgence". C-Ville.
  7. ^ Carpenter Hale, Sally (October 30, 2017). "Explore wine country in Virginia's scenic Shenandoah Valley". The Seattle Times.
  8. ^ "Shenandoah Valley Wineries". American Winery Guide.com.
  9. ^ "Climate of Virginia". www.virginiaplaces.org.
  10. ^ a b "Shenandoah Valley - Virginia Wine". Wine-Searcher.
  11. ^ Dupury, Jessica (September 27, 2018). "Rising American Wine Regions to Know". Guildsomm.
  12. ^ Williams, Megan (May 10, 2014). "Valley climate, culture unique for wine-making". The News Leader.