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Shenandoah Valley AVA

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Coordinates: 38°24′22″N 78°59′55″W / 38.406191°N 78.998640°W / 38.406191; -78.998640
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Not to be confused with California Shenandoah Valley AVA.

Shenandoah Valley
Wine region
TypeAmerican Viticultural Area
Year established1982[1]
Years of wine industry49[2]
CountryUnited States
Part ofVirginia (VA), West Virginia (WV)
Other regions in Virginia (VA), West Virginia (WV)Middleburg AVA, Monticello AVA, North Fork of Roanoke AVA, Northern Neck George Washington Birthplace AVA, Rocky Knob AVA, Virginia's Eastern Shore AVA, Virginia Peninsula AVA
Climate regionRegion V[1]
Heat units4,344 to 4,866 GDD[1]
Precipitation (annual average)33.8 to 37.7 in (860–960 mm)[1]
Total area2.4 million acres (3,750 sq mi)[1]
Size of planted vineyardsVA: 216 acres (87 ha)[3]
WV: 30 acres (12 ha)
No. of vineyards22
Grapes producedCabernet Franc, Chambourcin, Chardonnay, Gewurztraminer, Riesling, Traminette, Viognier,[4] Norton, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot[4]
No. of wineries11[4]

Shenandoah Valley is an American Viticultural Area (AVA) located in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia and West Virginia. The valley is bounded by the Blue Ridge Mountains to the east and the Appalachian and Allegheny Plateaus to the west. Virginia's first and the nation's 25th AVA was established on December 27, 1982 by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), Treasury after reviewing the petition submitted by the Shenandoah Vineyards in Edinburg, Virginia, on behalf of themselves and local vintners, proposing a viticultural area in the countries of Frederick, Clarke, Warren, Shenandoah, Page, Rockingham, Augusta, Rockbridge, Botetourt and Amherst in Virginia, and the counties of Berkeley and Jefferson in West Virginia, to be named "Shenandoah Valley."[5]

Most of the 2.4 million acres (3,750 sq mi) AVA lies in Virginia with a small portion in the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia. At the outset, there were approximately 116 acres (47 ha) of cultivation with 100 additional acres (40 ha) planned for 1982 in the Virginia portion of the area and approximately 13 acres (5.3 ha) with 17 additional acres (6.9 ha) for 1982 in the West Virginia portion. Within the AVA, there was also 7 commercial vineyards and 3 wineries in Virginia and 9 vineyards and 3 wineries in the West Virginia portion.[3]

Similarly, the majority of vineyard acreage is located in Virginia and grow a wide variety of Vitis vinifera, Vitis labrusca, and French hybrid grapes.[4] The hardiness zone is mainly 7a except for some 6b in high areas.[6] Limestone soil, which is common to the Valley, has been long associated with great wine growing regions in Europe.[7] The AVA's climate allows grapes to attain higher acidity, generally regarded as good in wine.[8] The cooler, relatively dry climate, soil composition and position between two mountain chains makes the Shenandoah Valley more ideal for viticulture than any of the state's other regions.[9][10] The Shenandoah Valley is relatively dry, a "rain shadow" between the Blue Ridge and Allegheny Mountains;[11] the annual rainfall in the Valley is one half that of the Virginia average.[12] The growing season in the valley is distinctly warmer and drier than in neighboring Virginia regions, which don't have the natural rain barrier from the nearby mountains[12] and where, east of the Blue Ridge, vineyard soils are primarily clay and loam.[6][13] The conditions in the Shenandoah Valley AVA are thus more hospitable than those east of the mountains for Cabernet Franc, Chambourcin, Cabernet Sauvignon, Lemberger, Petit Manseng, Petit Verdot, Pinot Noir, and Riesling.[8][14]

Wineries and vineyards

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Wine producers in the AVA include: (from north to south)

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e "Shenandoah Valley Viticultural Area In Virginia and West Virginia" (27 CFR Part 9 [T.D. ATF-120; Ref: Notice No. 419] Final Rule). Federal Register. 47 (249). Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), Treasury: 57696–57699. December 28, 1982.Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  2. ^ "About". Shenandoah Vineyards. Retrieved June 20, 2025.
  3. ^ a b "Establishment of Shenandoah Valley Viticultural Area" (27 CFR Part 9 [Notice No. 419] Proposed Rule). Federal Register. 47 (162). Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), Treasury: 36445–36448. August 20, 1982.Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  4. ^ a b c d "Shenandoah Valley (VA) (AVA): Appellation Profile". Appellation America. 2007. Archived from the original on September 2, 2013. Retrieved January 30, 2008.
  5. ^ Randel Jr., J.B. (August 25, 1981). "Petition of Shenandoah Vineyards to Establish a Viticultural Area named "Shenandoah Valley"". TTB.gov. Shenandoah Vineyards.Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  6. ^ a b Berry, Camille (September 6, 2016). "The Wines of Virginia" (Articles). GuildSomm.
  7. ^ "Why Limestone Matters for Wine Grape Growing". Tablas Creek Vineyard Blog. May 26, 2010.
  8. ^ a b Scala, Erin (September 26, 2018). "Growing interest: Shenandoah Valley's unique climate spurs its wine resurgence". C-Ville.
  9. ^ Carpenter Hale, Sally (October 30, 2017). "Explore wine country in Virginia's scenic Shenandoah Valley". The Seattle Times.
  10. ^ "Shenandoah Valley Wineries". American Winery Guide.com.
  11. ^ "Climate of Virginia". www.virginiaplaces.org.
  12. ^ a b "Shenandoah Valley - Virginia Wine". Wine-Searcher.
  13. ^ Dupury, Jessica (September 27, 2018). "Rising American Wine Regions to Know". Guildsomm.
  14. ^ Williams, Megan (May 10, 2014). "Valley climate, culture unique for wine-making". The News Leader.
  15. ^ "Veramar Vineyard". Retrieved March 15, 2016.
  16. ^ "James Charles Winery". Retrieved March 15, 2016.
  17. ^ "Valerie Hill Winery". Retrieved March 15, 2016.
  18. ^ "North Mountain Vineyard & Winery". Retrieved March 15, 2016.
  19. ^ "Muse Vineyards". Retrieved March 15, 2016.
  20. ^ "Shenandoah Vineyards". Retrieved March 15, 2016.
  21. ^ "Wolf Gap Vineyard and Winery". Retrieved March 15, 2016.
  22. ^ "Cave Ridge Vineyard & Winery". Retrieved March 15, 2016.
  23. ^ "Kindred Pointe". Retrieved March 15, 2016.
  24. ^ "De Mello Vineyards". Retrieved March 15, 2016.
  25. ^ "Old Hill Cidery". Showalter's Orchard & Greenhouse. Retrieved March 15, 2016.
  26. ^ "Wisteria Vineyard". Retrieved March 15, 2016.
  27. ^ "CrossKeys Vineyards". Retrieved March 15, 2016.
  28. ^ "Bluestone Vineyard". Retrieved March 15, 2016.
  29. ^ "Marceline Vineyards". Retrieved November 11, 2022.
  30. ^ Higgs, John. "Barren ridge vineyards".
  31. ^ "Ox-Eye Vineyards". Retrieved March 15, 2016.
  32. ^ "Above Ground Winery". Retrieved March 15, 2016.
  33. ^ "Hunt's Vineyard". Archived from the original on March 16, 2016. Retrieved March 15, 2016.
  34. ^ "Rockbridge Vineyard". Retrieved March 15, 2016.
  35. ^ "Jump Mountain Vineyard". Virginia Wine. Retrieved March 15, 2016.
  36. ^ "Lexington Valley Vineyard". Retrieved March 15, 2016.
  37. ^ "Blue Ridge Vineyard". Retrieved March 15, 2016.
  38. ^ "Briedé Family Vineyard". Retrieved June 20, 2025.
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38°24′22″N 78°59′55″W / 38.406191°N 78.998640°W / 38.406191; -78.998640

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