Snake River Valley AVA

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Snake River AVA (Wine Region)
Appellation type	American Viticultural Area
Year established	2007^[1]
Country	USA
Part of	Idaho, Oregon
Total area	8,263 square miles (21,401 km²)^[2]
Size of planted vineyards	1,800 acres (728 ha)^[2]
No. of vineyards	46^[3]
Grapes produced	Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Canadice, Chardonnay, Cinsault, Gewurztraminer, Grenache, Lemberger, Malbec, Merlot, Mourvedre, Riesling, Syrah^[2]
No. of wineries	15^[3]
This box: view • talk • edit

The Snake River Valley AVA in an American Viticultural Area that encompasses an area in Southwestern Idaho and two counties in eastern Oregon. The area was designated an AVA as a result of a successful petition from the Idaho Grape Growers and Wine Producers Commission^[4] and the Idaho Department of Commerce and Labor. The petition was granted in 2007, and for wines to bear the Snake River Valley AVA label, at least 85% of the grapes used for production must be grown in the designated area, which includes the Southwestern Idaho counties of Ada, Adams, Boise, Canyon, Elmore, Gem, Gooding, Jerome, Owyhee, Payette, Twin Falls, and Washington, and the Eastern Oregon counties of Baker and Malheur. The boundary encompasses 15 wineries, 46 vineyards, and 1,800 acres (728 ha) of commercial vineyard production.^[3]^[2]

[edit] Climate

Located on the same latitude as Oregon's Umpqua Valley AVA, the Snake River Valley has a more drastic diurnal temperature variation than other appellations in the Pacific Northwest due to the high elevation of most of the region's vineyards. At elevations of 2,500 feet (760 m) to 3,000 feet (910 m) above sea level, the region is also more than 400 miles (640 km) from the tempering affects of the Pacific Ocean.^[5]