| Snake River AVA (wine region) | |
|---|---|
| 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] |
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 Malheur and Baker. The boundary encompasses 15 wineries, 46 vineyards, and 1,800 acres (728 ha) of commercial vineyard production.[2][3]
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]