Willamette Valley AVA

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**Willamette Valley (Wine Region)**

Official name:	Willamette Valley AVA
Appellation type:	American Viticultural Area
Year established:	1984
Years of wine industry:	1965–
Part of:	Oregon
Sub-regions:	Dundee Hills AVA McMinnville AVA Ribbon Ridge AVA Yamhill-Carlton District AVA
Climate region:	I
Total size (acres):	5,200 sq miles
varietals produced:	Pinot Noir and other
No. of wineries:	200
Comments:	All data as of 2005

The Willamette Valley American Viticultural Area, or Willamette Valley AVA, is an American Viticultural Area which lies in the Willamette Valley of Oregon. The Willamette Valley AVA was established in 1984, and now has four smaller AVAs enclosed within its boundaries. The Willamette Valley has a cool, moist climate, and is recognized worldwide for its Pinot Noir.

1 Description
2 Enclosed AVAs
3 References

[edit] Description

The Willamette River Valley

The Willamette Valley AVA is the wine growing region which encompasses the drainage basin of the Willamette River. It stretches from the Columbia River in the north to just south of Eugene in the south, where the Willamette Valley ends; and from the Coast Range in the West to the Cascade Mountains in the East. At 5,200 square miles, it is the largest AVA in the state, and contains most of the state's wineries; approximately 200 as of 2006.^[1]

The climate of Willamette Valley is mild year-round. Winters are typically cool and wet, summers are dry and warm; heat above 90 degrees Fahrenheit (32 degrees Celsius) only occurrs 5-15 days per year, and the temperature drops below 0 degrees Fahrenheit (−18 degrees Celsius) once every twenty five years. Most rainfall occurs in the late autumn, winter, and early spring, when temperatures are the coldest. The valley gets relativel little snow (5"–10") per year. ^[2]

Not all portions of the Willamette Valley are suitable for vineyards, however, and the largest concentration of wineries is found west of the Willamette River, on the leeward slopes of the Coast Range, or among the numerous river and stream valleys created by Willamette River tributaries. By far, the largest concentration of wineries is in Yamhill County. ^[3]

Although this distinction is not officially recognized, many wine conniseurs further divide the Willamette Valley into northern and southern regions, the dividing line being the approximate latitude of Salem (approximately 45 degrees north latitude).^[4] In addition, there are several sub-AVAs defined within the Willamette Valley AVA, all located in the northern half. These include:

[edit] Enclosed AVAs

Pinot noir grapes at Chehalem Ridgecrest Vineyard, Newberg, Oregon

There are four AVAs enclosed within the Willamette Valley AVA, and two applications currently pending with the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau.

[edit] Dundee Hills AVA

The Dundee Hills AVA in the hills north and west of Dundee ^[5] The area is 6,940 acres (28.1 km²) in total size, with 1,300 acres (530 ha) planted with grapes. Over 25 wineries and independent vineyards in this region produce over 44,000 cases of wine. The area is particularly noted for its Pinot Noir; several wineries in the AVA have won international recognition for their wines.^[6].

[edit] McMinnville AVA

The McMinnville AVA near McMinnville was established in 2005, in the hills to the southwest of McMinnville, roughly running from McMinnville to Sheridan. The AVA includes 14 wineries and 523 acres of vineyards, and includes lands with elevations ranging from 200 to 1,000 feet. ^[7]^[8]

[edit] Ribbon Ridge AVA

The Ribbon Ridge AVA, between Newberg and Gaston, is a ridge containing uplift of ocean sediment. It lies at 45 Degrees 21' N latitude and 123 degrees 04' W longitude, at the northwest end of the Chehalem Mountains. The name originates in the 19th century. The ridge is approximately 1¾ miles wide and 3½ miles in length, and is 5¼ square miles (3350 acres, 13.6 km²) in size, with 500 acres planted on 20 vineyards. ^[8] It is estimated that between 1,000 and 1,400 acres in the region is suitable for planting. ^[9]^[10]

[edit] Yamhill-Carlton District AVA

The Yamhill-Carlton District AVA in the area surrounding Yamhill and Carlton. Only grapes grown in vineyards with elevations ranging from 200 to 1,000 feet may use the appellation. The AVA includes over 1200 acres of vineyard, and the region is in the rain shadow of the 3,500 foot (1200 m) coast range, a short distance to the west. The AVA was established in 2005. ^[11]^[12]^[8]

[edit] Pending AVAs

There are two regions with pending AVA applications, with proposed appellations of Chehalem Mountains AVA and Eola Amity Hills AVA. The former, if approved, would contain the Ribbon Ridge AVA entirely within its boundaries.^[8]