Snake River Valley AVA

Snake River AVA
Wine region
Type American Viticultural Area
Year established 2007[1]
Country USA
Part of Idaho, Oregon
Climate region Continental
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 is 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]

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]

References

  1. ↑ Code of Federal Regulations. "§ 9.208 Snake River Valley." Title 27: Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms; Part 9 — American Viticultural Areas; Subpart C — Approved American Viticultural Areas. Retrieved Jan. 30, 2008.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Appellation America (2007). "Snake River Valley (AVA): Appellation Description". Retrieved Jan. 30, 2008.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 "Establishment of the Snake River Valley Viticultural Area (2005R-463P)". Federal Register 72 (46): 10598–10603. March 9, 2007. Archived from the original on 2007-10-23. Retrieved 2007-07-04.
  4. ↑ Idaho Grape Growers and Wine Producers Commission
  5. ↑ H. Johnson & J. Robinson The World Atlas of Wine pg 286 Mitchell Beazley Publishing 2005 ISBN 1-84000-332-4

Coordinates: 43°36′N 116°48′W / 43.6°N 116.8°W