Yadkin Valley AVA

Infobox Wine Region
name = Yadkin Valley AVA


caption =
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type = American Viticultural Area
year = 2002 [http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text/text-idx?c=ecfr;sid=1bff23721f73118153a4957b609abb1f;rgn=div5;view=text;node=27%3A1.0.1.1.7;idno=27;cc=ecfr#27:1.0.1.1.7.3.41.154Code of Federal Regulations. "§ 9.174 Yadkin Valley."] Title 27: Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms; Part 9 — American Viticultural Areas; Subpart C — Approved American Viticultural Areas. Retrieved Nov. 16, 2007.]
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country = USA
part of = North Carolina
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total size = convert|1400000|acre|km2|0Appellation America (2007). [http://wine.appellationamerica.com/wine-region/Yadkin-Valley.html "Yadkin Valley (AVA): Appellation Description"] . Retrieved Nov. 16, 2007.]
planted = convert|400|acre|ha|0fact|date=January 2008
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grapes = Aleatico, Barbera, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chambourcin, Chardonnay, Malbec, Malvasia, Merlot, Montepulciano, Muscat Canelli, Nebbiolo, Niagara, Petit Verdot, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir, Riesling, Sangiovese, Sauvignon Blanc, Seyval Blanc, Syrah, Vermentino, Viognier
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wineries = 23fact|date=January 2008
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The Yadkin Valley AVA is an American Viticultural Area that includes land in seven counties of northwestern North Carolina. The AVA encompasses an area of approximately convert|1400000|acre|km2|0 in the Yadkin River valley. The Yadkin Valley AVA includes all of Wilkes, Surry, and Yadkin counties, and parts of Davie, Davidson, Forsyth and Stokes counties.

History

For decades, the area was a key tobacco-growing region. However, as tobacco farming and cigarette manufacturing in the area declined, some entrepreneurs, including tobacco farmers, have turned to winemaking. The native grapes of this region of the southeastern United States are the Muscadine and the Scuppernong. Early attempts to grow the European wine grape, "Vitis vinifera", in the southeastern United States, including 18th century efforts by Thomas Jefferson at Monticello, Virginia, had mixed success. But in the past two to three decades, viticultural research has helped adapt these grapes to the climate, soil, and pests of the region. Additionally, Surry Community College, located in Dobson, North Carolina, has served as a valuable community resource for this growing industry by offering certificate and degree programs in viticulture and enology. In 2005, Davidson County Community College formed a partnership with Surry Community College for the delivery of the viticulture and enology program/certifications in Davidson and Davie counties.

In 2003, the United States' Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives approved the new appellation for the region with the name Yadkin Valley AVA, allowing winemakers to bottle wines with a label indicating that the wine came from the Yadkin Valley. In 2005, there were 14 wineries and convert|400|acre|ha|0 of vineyards in the region. By 2005 the number of wine producers had increased to 23.fact|date=January 2008

Geography

The Yadkin Valley area is in the piedmont and foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Local wine festivals

The Yadkin Valley Wine Festival is held the third Saturday in May at the Municipal Park in Elkin. The Yadkin Valley Grape Festival is held the third Saturday in October in Yadkinville. The 'Shine to Wine Festival is held in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina the first Saturday in May.

References

External links

* [http://www.ncwine.org/welcome.html North Carolina Grape Council]
* [http://www.yadkinwines.com/ Map of all of the Yadkin Valley Wineries]
* [http://ww3.surry.edu/depts/viticulture/index.html Surry Community College Department of Viticulure & Enology]
* [http://www.yvwf.com/ Yadkin Valley Wine Festival Homepage]
* [http://www.yvwt.com/ Yadkin Valley Wine Trail - lists wineries, dining, lodging, ancillary visitor information]
* [http://www.yadkinvalleywinecountry.com/ Yadkin Valley Wine Country]