Snake River Valley AVA
The Snake River Valley AVA is an American Viticultural Area that encompasses an area in Southwestern Idaho and two counties in eastern Oregon. The Idaho Grape Growers and Wine Producers Commission[4] and the Idaho Department of Commerce and Labor filed the petition to recognize the AVA, and it was granted in 2007.
| Wine region | |
 | |
| Type | American Viticultural Area |
|---|---|
| Year established | 2007[1] |
| Country | United States |
| Part of | Idaho, Oregon |
| Climate region | Continental |
| Total area | 8,263 square miles (21,401 km2), 5,280,000 acres (2,140,000 ha) [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] |
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 AVA 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 effects of the Pacific Ocean.[5]
References
- Code of Federal Regulations. "§ 9.208 Snake River Valley." Archived January 19, 2008, at the Wayback Machine Title 27: Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms; Part 9 — American Viticultural Areas; Subpart C — Approved American Viticultural Areas. Retrieved Jan. 30, 2008.
- Appellation America (2007). "Snake River Valley (AVA): Appellation Description". Retrieved Jan. 30, 2008.
- "Establishment of the Snake River Valley Viticultural Area (2005R-463P)" (PDF). Federal Register. 72 (46): 10598–10603. March 9, 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2007-10-23. Retrieved 2007-07-04.
- Idaho Grape Growers and Wine Producers Commission Archived 2007-09-04 at the Wayback Machine
- H. Johnson & J. Robinson The World Atlas of Wine pg 286 Mitchell Beazley Publishing 2005 ISBN 1-84000-332-4
