- Willamette Valley AVA
Infobox Wine Region
name = Willamette Valley AVA
caption =
official name =
other name =
type =American Viticultural Area
year = 1984 [http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text/text-idx?c=ecfr;sid=bff700d0bbb2a632948b70fe7e91d7d4;rgn=div5;view=text;node=27%3A1.0.1.1.7;idno=27;cc=ecfr#27:1.0.1.1.7.3.41.70 Code of Federal Regulations. "§ 9.90 Willamette Valley."] Title 27: Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms; Part 9 — American Viticultural Areas; Subpart C — Approved American Viticultural Areas. Retrieved Jan. 29, 2008.]
wine years = 1965–present
country =USA
part of = Oregon
similar =
sub regions =Chehalem Mountains AVA ,Dundee Hills AVA ,Eola-Amity Hills AVA ,McMinnville AVA ,Ribbon Ridge AVA ,Yamhill-Carlton District AVA
season =
climate region = I
heat units =
precipitation =
soil =
total size = convert|3300000|acre|km2|0Wine Institute, The (2008). [http://www.iwineinstitute.com/ava/avabystate.asp "American Viticultural Areas by State"] . Retrieved Jan. 29, 2008.]
planted =
vineyards =
grapes =Auxerrois ,Cabernet Franc ,Cabernet Sauvignon ,Cascade ,Chardonnay ,Dolcetto ,Early Muscat ,Gamay Noir ,Gewurztraminer ,Malbec ,Marechal Foch ,Melon ,Merlot ,Muller Thurgau ,Muscat Canelli ,Muscat Ottonel ,Pinot Blanc ,Pinot Gris ,Pinot Noir ,Riesling ,Sauvignon Blanc ,Syrah ,Tocai Friulano ,Viognier Appellation America (2007). [http://wine.appellationamerica.com/wine-region/Willamette-Valley.html "Willamette Valley (AVA): Appellation Description"] . Retrieved Jan. 29, 2008.]
varietals =
wineries = 200
wine produced =
designation =
comments =The Willamette Valley AVA, is an
American Viticultural Area which lies in theWillamette Valley ofOregon . The AVA is the wine growing region which encompasses thedrainage basin of theWillamette River . It stretches from theColumbia River in the north to just south of Eugene in the south, where theWillamette Valley ends; and from theOregon Coast Range in the west to theCascade Mountains in the east. At convert|5200|sqmi|km2|-2, it is the largest AVA in the state, and contains most of the state's wineries; approximately 200as of 2006 . The boundaries of the Willamette Valley AVA were established in 1984, and since then six new, smaller AVAs have been created within the northern portion of Willamette Valley AVA. The Willamette Valley has a cool, moist climate, and is recognized worldwide for itsPinot Noir .Although this distinction is not officially recognized, many wine connoisseurs further divide the Willamette Valley into northern and southern regions, the dividing line being the approximate latitude of Salem (approximately 45° north latitude). [http://www.answers.com/topic/willamette-valley-ava Barrons: Willamette Valley AVA]
Climate
The climate of Willamette Valley is mild year-round. Winters are typically cool and wet, summers are dry and warm; heat above convert|90|°F|°C|0 only occurs 5 to 15 days per year, and the temperature drops below convert|0|°F|°C|0 once every 25 years. Most rainfall occurs in the late autumn, winter, and early spring, when temperatures are the coldest. The valley gets relatively little snow (convert|5|in|cm|0 to convert|10|in|cm|0) per year. [http://www.ocs.orst.edu/pub_ftp/reports/zone/Zone_2_narrative.html Oregon State University: Oregon Climate Zone Summary]
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 inYamhill County . [http://www.winesnw.com/nwillmap.html Wines Northwest: Map of Willamette Valley wineries]Sub-appellations
There are six American Viticultural Areas within the Willamette Valley AVA. These smaller AVAs recognize regions within the larger Willamette Valley AVA that have distinctive
climate ,soil ,elevation , or other physical features that make them noteworthy for wine production.Chehalem Mountains AVA
The
Chehalem Mountains AVA , established in 2006, stretches convert|20|mi|km|0 from Wilsonville in the southeast to Forest Grove in the northwest. The Chehalem Mountains includesRibbon Ridge ,Parrott Mountain , andBald Peak . The petition process for the creation of the AVA began in 2001 and was led by David Adelsheim ofAdelsheim Vineyard .Wines Northwest (2006). [http://www.winesnw.com/news_reviews/newsandreviews_chehalemAVA.htm "Chehalem Mountains Becomes Oregon's Fifteenth American Viticultural Area"] . Dec. 27, 2006.]Dundee Hills AVA
The
Dundee Hills AVA in the hills north and west of Dundee [http://www.ttb.gov/notices/ttbnotice_no14.pdfUnited States Department of the Treasury ,Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau : 27 CFR Part 9, RIN:1513-AA50, Notice No. 14 "Proposed Dundee Hills Viticultural Area (2002R-218P)] 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 itsPinot Noir ; several wineries in the AVA have won international recognition for their wines. [http://www.dundeehills.org/presskit.htm Dundee Hills Winegrowers Association Press Kit] .Eola-Amity Hills AVA
The
Eola-Amity Hills AVA stretches from the town of Amity in the north to Salem in the south. The hills cover an area west of theWillamette River approximately convert|15|mi|km|0 long by convert|6|mi|km|0 wide. The Eola-Amity Hills area benefits from steady winds off thePacific Ocean that reach theWillamette Valley through theVan Duzer corridor , a gap in theOregon Coast Range , moderating the summer temperatures. The name Eola is a tribute to the windy conditions in the area, and is derived fromAeolus , theGreek god of wind.Purdue, Andy (2006). [http://www.winepressnw.com/features/story/7979592p-7872921c.html "Introducing the Eola-Amity Hills"] . "Wine Press Northwest". Retrieved Jan. 29, 2008.]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 convert|523|acre|km2|1 of vineyards, and includes lands with elevations ranging from 200 to convert|1000|ft|m|-2. [http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20051800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2005/pdf/05-912.pdfFederal Register vol 70 no. 11, Tuesday Jan 18 2005, Establishment of the McMinnville Viticultural Area (2002R-217P)] http://www.willamettewines.com/avas.shtml WillametteWines.com: Willamette Valley AVAs]Ribbon Ridge AVA
The
Ribbon Ridge AVA , between Newberg and Gaston, is a ridge containing uplift of ocean sediment. It lies at 45° 21' N, 123° 04' W, at the northwest end of the Chehalem Mountains. The name originates in the19th century . The ridge is approximately convert|0.25|mi|km|2 wide and convert|3.50|mi|km|2 long, and is convert|3350|acre|km2|0 in area, with convert|500|acre|ha|0 planted on 20 vineyards. It is estimated that between convert|1000|acre|km2|0 and convert|1400|acre|km2|0 in the region is suitable for planting. [http://www.ribbonridge.com/default.cfm?action=display&Essay_ID=138 Ribbon Ridge Vineyard: Ribbon Ridge AVA] [http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20051800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2005/pdf/05-10881.pdfFederal Register Vol 70 No. 104, Wednesday June 1, 2005, "Establishment of the Ribbon Ridge Viticultural Area" (2002R-215P)]Yamhill-Carlton District AVA
The
Yamhill-Carlton District AVA in the area surrounding the towns of Yamhill and Carlton. Only grapes grown in vineyards with elevations ranging from convert|200|ft|m|-2 to convert|1000|ft|m|-2 may be use to produce wines that bear the appellation name on their labels. The AVA includes over convert|1200|acre|km2|0 of vineyard, and the region is in therain shadow of the convert|3500|ft|m|-2 Oregon Coast Range, a short distance to the west. The AVA was established in 2005. [http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/06jun20041800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2004/pdf/04-27016.pdfFederal Register Vol. 68 No. 194, Tuesday October 7, 2003, "Establishment of the Yamhill-Carlton District Viticultural Area" (2002R-216P)] [http://wine.appellationamerica.com/wine-region/Yamhill-Carlton-District.html AppellationAmerica.com: Yamhill-Carlton District (AVA)]References
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