American Viticultural Areas

HOME > CONSUMERISM > LABEL BASICS > APPELLATION > AMERICAN VITICULTURAL AREAS

Understanding Wine Labels(Supplement)
American Viticultural Areas
Listed below (in Italics) are 204 separate American Viticultural Areas approved by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) as of March, 2013, as well as some that are proposed and pending. A listing may be linked to an association, organization, or marketing group which represents that particular AVA or political region. The TTB web site has an Appellations of Origin page, but the latest information is often belated.

= Newly Approved AVA. Federal Regulations define the boundaries and characteristics of each area. All official (and proposed) AVAs are listed within tables and are Italicized; Geographic Regions and Political Boundaries are not. AVAs which overlap county or state boundaries are indicated by notation within the brackets immediately following the defined AVA.

California accounts for nearly half of all US wineries, more than 90% of the country's total production, and also contains the majority of winegrowing appellations. These are listed in the left page column following a general geographic order from North to South, down the coast, then inland, grouped by general region (no official status), then by County. All the other states' AVAs are listed in the right page column, alphabetically by state.

Within each table, individual AVA names are listed in the left column, followed by date approved to the right. Where known, the total acres included¹ appears at the far right. For additional information, please see Related Links at the bottom of the page.

California (114 separate unique/shared)
(Far Northern Coast Region) (2 unique + *1 shared)

HUMBOLDT COUNTY (*1 shared)

Willow Creek (*Trinity) Sep, 1983
7,582

SISKIYOU COUNTY (1 unique)

Seiad Valley June, 1994
2,203

TRINITY COUNTY (1 unique + *1 shared)
Trinity Lakes
Feb, 2005

96,000

Willow Creek (*Humboldt) Sep, 1983
7,582

North Coast (47 unique, 2 proposed + 4 shared)
AVA DATE ACRES

North Coast (*Napa, Sonoma, Mendocino, Lake, Marin, Solano) Oct, 1983
3,240,108

MENDOCINO COUNTY (10 unique, 1 shared)
AVA DATE ACRES

Anderson Valley
Sep, 1983

58,532

Cole Ranch (smallest AVA) May, 1983
189

Covelo
Feb, 2006

(unknown)

Dos Rios
Nov, 2005

15,500

McDowell Valley Feb, 1987
2,225

Mendocino July, 1984
327,430

Mendocino Ridge Dec, 1997
87,466

Pine Mtn-Cloverdale Pk (*Sonoma) Nov, 2011 4,600

Potter Valley Nov, 1983
28,805

Redwood Valley Feb, 1997
32,046

Yorkville Highlands June, 1998
40,000

LAKE COUNTY (5 unique, 2 proposed)
Benmore Valley Nov, 1991
1,440

Big Valley District
(proposed)

(unknown)

Clear Lake June, 1984
217,328

Guenoc Valley Dec, 1981
4,395

High Valley Aug, 2005
14,000

Kelsey Bench
(proposed)

(unknown)

Red Hills-California Aug, 2004
31,250

SONOMA COUNTY (12 unique + *3 shared + 2 proposed)
AVA DATE ACRES

Alexander Valley June, 1988
32,536

Bennett Valley Dec, 2003
8,140

Chalk Hill June, 1988
22,921

Dry Creek Valley Sep, 1983
78,387

Fort Ross-Seaview Dec, 2011 27,500

Green Valley of Russian River Vly
Dec, 1983 /
Apr, 2007

19,010

Knights Valley Nov, 1983
37,083

Los Carneros (*Napa) Sep, 1987
37,061

Pine Mtn-Cloverdale Pk (*Mendocino )
Nov, 2011

4,600

Moon Mountain
(proposed)

(unknown)

Northern Sonoma Sep, 1986
349,837

Petaluma Gap (proposed)
(unknown)

Rockpile Apr, 2002
15,400

Russian River Valley Nov, 1983
126,600

Sonoma Coast (*Marin) July, 1987
516,409

Sonoma Mountain Feb, 1985
5,757

Sonoma Valley Jan, 1982
115,109

NAPA COUNTY (15 unique + *2 shared)
Atlas Peak Feb, 1992
12,267

Calistoga Jan, 2010
~=13,000

Chiles Valley Apr, 1999
6,000

Coombsville
Dec, 2011

11,075

Diamond Mountain July, 2001
5,000

Howell Mountain Jan, 1984
13.061

Los Carneros (*Sonoma) Sep, 1987
37,061

Mt. Veeder Mar, 1990
16,851

Napa Valley Jan, 1981
225,280

Oak Knoll District Apr, 2004
8,300

Oakville Aug, 1983
6,768

Rutherford Aug, 1983
6,650

St. Helena Oct, 1995
9,257

Spring Mountain District June, 1993
8,467

Stags Leap District Feb, 1989
3,042

Wild Horse Valley (*Solano)
Dec, 1988

3,941

Yountville May, 1999
8,260

MARIN COUNTY (*1 shared)
Sonoma Coast (*Sonoma) July, 1987
516,409

SOLANO COUNTY (2 unique + *1 shared)
Solano County Green Valley Jan, 1983
17,009

Suisun Valley
Dec, 1982

19,131

Wild Horse Valley (*Napa) Dec, 1988
3,941

TOP

(Central Coast Region) (*2 shared + 29 unique, 11 proposed)

AVA	DATE	ACRES
Central Coast (*Alameda, Contra Costa, Monterey, San Benito, San Francisco, San Luis Obispo, San Mateo, Santa Barbara, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz)	Nov, 1985	5,463,269
San Francisco Bay (*Alameda, Contra Costa, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara)	Mar, 1999	1,566,713

ALAMEDA COUNTY (1 unique)
Livermore Valley Oct, 1982
82,329

SANTA CLARA COUNTY (3 unique)
Pacheco Pass Apr, 1984
2,702

Santa Clara Valley Apr, 1989
317,342

San Ysidro District Dec, 1990
2,539

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY (2 unique)
AVA DATE ACRES

Ben Lomond Mountain Jan, 1988
38,400

Santa Cruz Mountains Jan, 1982
408,467

MONTEREY COUNTY (9 unique)
Arroyo Seco May, 1983
32,779

Carmel Valley Jan, 1983
17,831

Chalone July, 1982
8,671

Hames Valley Apr, 1994
12,297

Monterey July, 1984
597,624

San Antonio Valley June, 2006 150,400

San Bernabe Aug, 2004 24,796

San Lucas Mar, 1987
35,362

Santa Lucia Highlands June, 1992
20,708

SAN BENITO COUNTY (5 unique)
AVA DATE ACRES

Cienega Valley Sep, 1982
7,080

Lime Kiln Valley July, 1982
2,297

Mount Harlan Dec, 1990
7,778

Paicines Sep. 1982
18,881

San Benito Nov, 1987
46,634

SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY (4 unique, 11 proposed)
Arroyo Grande Valley Feb, 1990
38,916

Edna Valley June, 1987
28,858

Paso Robles Nov, 1983
609,662

Adelaida District
(proposed)

(unknown)

Creston Cistrict
(proposed)

(unknown)

El Pomar District
(proposed)

(unknown)

Paso Robles Estrella District
(proposed)

(unknown)

Paso Robles Geneseo District
(proposed)

(unknown)

Paso Robles Highlands District
(proposed)

(unknown)

San Juan Creek
(proposed)

(unknown)

San Miguel District
(proposed)

(unknown)

Santa Margarita District
(proposed)

(unknown)

Paso Robles Willow Creek District
(proposed)

(unknown)

Templeton Gap
(proposed)

(unknown)

York Mountain Feb, 1987
6,349

SANTA BARBARA COUNTY (5 unique)
Happy Canyon
Oct, 2009

23,941

Santa Maria Bench (proposed)
3,200

Santa Maria Valley Sep, 1981
97,480

²Sta. Rita Hills May, 2001
30,720

Santa Ynez Valley May, 1983
181,603

(Southern Region) (*1 shared + 8 unique, 1 proposed)

South Coast (*Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego)

Dec, 1985

2,141,514

LOS ANGELES COUNTY (4 unique, 1 proposed)
Leona Valley
Oct, 2008

8,600

Malibu-Newton Canyon
June, 1996

957

Malibu Coast
(proposed)

(unknown)

Saddle Rock-Malibu
July, 2006

2,100

Sierra Pelona Valley July, 2010
6,208

RIVERSIDE & SAN BERNARDINO COUNTIES (2 unique)
Cucamonga Valley
May, 1995

109,400

Temecula Feb, 1986
90,249

SAN DIEGO COUNTY (2 unique)
Ramona Valley
Jan, 2006

89,000

San Pasqual Valley Sep, 1981
9,205

(Inland, Delta & Foothills Regions) (9 unique + 2 shared, 1 proposed)

AVA	DATE	ACRES
Sierra Foothills (*Yuba, Nevada, Placer, El Dorado, Amador, Calaveras, Tuolumne, Mariposa)	Dec, 1987	2,654,179

EL DORADO COUNTY (2 unique + *1 shared)
California Shenandoah Valley (*Amador) Feb, 1987
13,652

El Dorado Nov, 1983
410,115

Fair Play Apr, 2001
21,120

AMADOR COUNTY (1 unique + *1 shared)
California Shenandoah Valley (*El Dorado) Feb, 1987
13,652

Fiddletown Nov, 1983
12,069

SHASTA COUNTY (1 shared proposed)

Manton Valley (*Tehama) (proposed)
(unknown)

TEHAMA COUNTY (1 shared proposed)

Manton Valley (*Shasta) (proposed)
(unknown)

YUBA COUNTY (1 unique)
North Yuba Aug, 1985
20,994

YOLO COUNTY (4 unique)
Capay Valley
Apr, 2003

102,400

Clarksburg Feb, 1984
68,101

Dunnigan Hills June, 1993
69,354

Merritt Island Feb, 1987
5,264

MADERA COUNTY (1 unique)
Madera Jan, 1985
457,591

(San Joaquin-Central Valley Region) (11 unique + 1 shared)

SACRAMENTO COUNTY (1 unique + *1 shared)
AVA DATE ACRES

Lodi (*San Joaquin)
Mar, 1986

445,320

Sloughhouse July, 2006
78,800

SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY (8 + *1 shared)
Alta Mesa
July, 2006

55,400

Borden Ranch
July, 2006

70,000

Clements Hills
July, 2006

85,400

Cosumnes River

July, 2006

54,700

Jahant

July, 2006

28,000

Lodi (*Sacramento)
Mar, 1986
445,320

Mokelumne River
July, 2006

87,500

River Junction
July, 2001

1,300

Tracy Hills July, 2006
39,200

STANISLAUS COUNTY (2 unique)
Diablo Grande Aug, 1998 30,000

Salado Creek Aug, 2004 2,940

Arizona (1 unique)

AVA DATE ACRES

Sonoita Nov, 1984
208,000

Arkansas (2 unique + *1 shared)

Altus June, 1984
12800

Arkansas Mountain
Oct, 1986

2,880,000

Ozark Mountain (*MO & OK)
Aug, 1986

3.520.000

Colorado (2 unique)

Grand Valley Dec, 2001
32,000

West Elks May, 2001
48,000

Connecticut (1 unique + *1 shared)
AVA DATE ACRES

Southeastern New England (*RI & MA) Apr, 1984
1,875,200

Western Connecticut Highlands Mar, 1988
1,004,550

Georgia (*1 shared proposed)

Upper Hiwassee Highlands (*NC) (proposed)
(unknown)

Idaho (1 unique)

Snake River Valley
Mar, 2007
5,270,000

Illinois (1 unique + 1 *shared)
Shawnee Hills Dec, 2006

1,368,960

Upper Mississippi River Valley (*IO, MN & WN - largest AVA) June, 2009

19,145,000

Indiana (1 unique ± *shared until - - after 2015 - - , when Indiana Wineries will no longer be permitted to use "Ohio River Valley on their labels)

Indiana Uplands
Mar, 2013

3,072,000

Ohio River Valley (*KY, OH & WV) Nov, 1983
2,236,800

Iowa (1 *shared)
Upper Mississippi River Valley (*IL, MN & WN - largest AVA) June, 2009

19,145,000

Kentucky (1 *shared; after 2015, Indiana Wineries must use "Indiana Highlands" and will no longer be permitted to use "Ohio River Valley" on their labels)

Ohio River Valley (*IN, OH & WV)

Nov, 1983

2,236,800

Louisiana (1 *shared)
Mississippi Delta (*MS & TN) Oct, 1984
3,840,000

Maryland (2 unique + *1 shared)
Catoctin Feb, 1987
170,000

Cumberland Valley (*PA) Aug, 1985
765,000

Linganore Sep, 1983
57,600

Massachusetts (1 unique + *1 shared)
AVA DATE ACRES

Martha's Vineyard Feb, 1985
64,000

Southeastern New England (*RI & CT) Apr, 1984
1,875,200

TOP

Michigan (4 unique)
Fennville Oct, 1981
75,000

Lake Michigan Shore Nov, 1983
1,280,000

Leelanau Peninsula Apr, 1982
211,200

Old Mission Peninsula July, 1987
19,200

Minnesota (1 unique + *1 shared)
Alexandria Lakes
Aug, 2005

10,880

Upper Mississippi River Valley (*IL, IO & WN - largest AVA) June, 2009

19,145,000

Mississippi (*1 shared)
Mississippi Delta (*LA & TN) Oct, 1984
3,840,000

Missouri (3 unique + *1 shared)
Augusta (First AVA approved) Jun, 1980
9,600

Hermann Feb, 1987
51,200

Ozark Mountain (*OK & AR) Aug, 1986
3,520,000

Ozark Highlands Sep, 1984
1,280,000

New Jersey (2 unique + *1 shared)
AVA DATE ACRES

Central Delaware Valley (*PA) Feb, 1987
96,000

Outer Coastal Plain
Apr, 2007

2,250,000

Warren Hills Sep, 1988
144,640

New Mexico (2 unique + *1 shared)
Mesilla Valley (*TX) Mar, 1985
284,800

Middle Rio Grande Valley Mar, 1988
278,400

Mimbres Valley Dec, 1985
636,800

New York (8 unique + *1 shared) is #3 in U.S.A. production by volume
Cayuga Lake Apr, 1986
460

Finger Lakes Feb, 1987
8,400

Hudson River Region July, 1982
224,000

Lake Erie (*PA & OH) Nov, 1983
2,236,800

Long Island July, 2001
749,146

Niagara Escarpment
Oct, 2005

18,000

North Fork of Long Island Nov, 1986
101,440

Seneca Lake Sep, 2003
204,600

The Hamptons, Long Island June, 1985
136,448

North Carolina (3 unique, 1 shared proposed)
AVA DATE ACRES

Haw River Valley

Mar, 2009

555,508

Swan Creek
Apr, 2008
(unknown)

Yadkin Valley
Feb, 2003

1,231,000

Upper Hiwassee Highlands (*GA)
(proposed)

(unknown)

Ohio (3 unique + *3 shared; after 2015, Indiana Wineries must use "Indiana Highlands" and will no longer be permitted to use "Ohio River Valley" on their labels)
Grand River Valley Nov, 1983
125,000

Isle St. George Sep, 1982
640

Kanawha River Valley (*WV) May, 1986
64,000

Lake Erie (*NY & PA) Nov, 1983
2,236,800

Loramie Creek Dec, 1982
3,600

Ohio River Valley (*IN, KY & WV) Nov, 1983
2,236,800

TOP

Oklahoma (1 shared + *1 unique proposed)
AVA DATE ACRES

Grand Lake O' the Cherokees (proposed)
(unknown)

Ozark Mountain (*MO & AR) Aug, 1986
3,520,000

Oregon (13 unique, 1 proposed + *3 shared); #4 in U.S.A. prod. by volume
Applegate Valley Dec, 2001
400

Columbia Gorge (*WA) May, 2004 179,200

Columbia Valley (*WA) Feb, 1987
1,152,000

Red Hill Douglas County
Oct, 2005

5,500

Rogue Valley Feb, 1991
2,688,000

Southern Oregon
Dec, 2004

2,001,430

The Rocks of Milton-Freewater
(proposed)

(unknown)

Umpqua Valley Apr, 1984
768,000

Walla Walla Valley (*WA) Feb, 1987
178,560

WILLAMETTE VALLEY (7 unique sub-AVAs)

.

AVA DATE ACRES

Chehalem Mountains
Jan, 2007

(1,600)

Dundee Hills
Jan, 2005

6,490

Eola-Amity Hills
Jul, 2006

38,000

McMinnville
Mar, 2005

40,450

Ribbon Ridge
Jul, 2005

3,350

Willamette Valley
Jan, 1984

3,300,000

Yamhill-Carlton District
Feb, 2005

8,500

Pennsylvania (2 unique + *3 shared)
Central Delaware Valley (*NJ) Feb, 1987
96,000

Cumberland Valley (*MD) May, 2001
765,000

Lake Erie (*NY & OH) Nov, 1983
2,236,800

Lancaster Valley Jun, 1982
225,000

Lehigh Valley Apr, 2008
1,208,320

Rhode Island (*1 shared)
Southeastern New England (*MA & CT) Apr, 1984
1,875,200

Tennessee (*1 shared)
Mississippi Delta (*MS & LA) Oct, 1984
3,840,000

Texas (7 unique + *1 shared)
AVA DATE ACRES

Bell Mountain Nov, 1986
3,200

Escondido Valley June, 1992
32,000

Fredericksburg in the Texas Hill Country Jan, 1989
70,400

Mesilla Valley (*NM) Mar, 1985
284,800

Texoma
Jan, 2006

2,300,000

Texas Davis Mountains May, 1998
270,000

Texas High Plains Apr, 1993
2,000

Texas Hill Country Dec, 1991
9,600,000

TOP

Virginia (6 unique + *1 shared)

Middleburg
Sep, 2012

121,600

Monticello Feb, 1984
200,000

North Fork of Roanoke Feb, 1987
(14,000)

Northern Neck
George Washington Birthplace May, 1987
590,080

Rocky Knob Feb, 1987
9,000

Shenandoah Valley (*WV) Feb, 1987
2,400,000

Virginia's Eastern Shore Feb, 1991
436,480

Washington (9 unique, 1 proposed + *3 shared); #2 overall in U.S.A. production by volume

Ancient Lakes of Columbia Vly (proposed) 162,700

Columbia Gorge (*OR) May, 2004 179,200

Columbia Valley (*OR) Feb, 1987
1,152,000

Horse Heaven Hills
Aug, 2005

570,000

Lake Chelan
Apr, 2009

24,040

Naches Heights Jan, 2012 (unknown)

Puget Sound Oct, 1995
5,536,000

Rattlesnake Hills Mar, 2006
68,500

Red Mountain June, 2001
4,040

Snipes Mountain
Jan, 2009

4,140

Wahluke Slope
Jan, 2006

81,000

Walla Walla Valley (*OR) Feb, 1987
178,560

Yakima Valley Oct, 1995
665,600

West Virginia (*3 shared; after 2015, Indiana Wineries must use "Indiana Highlands" and will no longer be permitted to use "Ohio River Valley" on their labels)
Ohio River Valley (*IN, KY & OH) Feb, 1987
16,640,000

Kanawha River Valley (*OH)
May, 1986

64,000

Shenandoah Valley (*VA) Feb, 1987
2,400,000

Wisconsin (1 unique + *1 shared)
Lake Wisconsin
Feb, 1994

28,000

Upper Mississippi River Valley (*IL, IO & MN - largest AVA)
June, 2009

19,145,000

TOP

eMail jimlamar(AT)winepros.org to suggest any sites which provide knowledge or information
related to any AVA listed here.

(FaceBook pages or other promotional "fronts" for
online merchants or sellers are not acceptable.)

NOTES
1 - Because the reference sources used disagree widely and acreage figures are often merely estimates rather than actual surveyed measurements, they should not be relied upon. Acres planted is a substantially smaller number in the great majority of cases. Please verify and cross-reference if you are using this information for any purpose other than entertainment. RETURN

2 - When this AVA was pending approval, the Chilean brand "Santa Rita" won a trademark infringement suit against the Santa Rita Hills AVA, forcing this American area to evermore be legally identified by the abbreviated name only... RETURN

RELATED LINKS
Appellation America, formerly available by paid subscription only, as of June 1, 2013, freely provides over 25,000 pages of comprehensive information promoting and celebrating the uniqueness of each AVA, including histories, winery contact info, varietal performance characteristics, etc.

The Wine Institute offers some online pages to answer "what, where, how and why" questions about American Viticultural Areas and provide more detailed information regarding the effects on labeling regulations and restrictions.

Vestra offers a wide selection of detailed full color glossy unframed maps of West Coast AVAs.

Page created June 10, 2001; updated May 26, 2013
Except as noted, all content, including design, text and images, is property of the site owner.
No part may be reproduced or used in any form without prior documented consent.
All rights reserved under the DMCA of 1998. © by Jim LaMar.