The Geography of Wine
Delivering Location Intelligence to the American Wine Industry
Great wine starts with geography
There are a lot of things that make a wine unique - and the geography of a wine is no exception. Temperature, climate, elevation, and soil type all play a part.
The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) designates grape-growing regions with distinguishable geographic features and boundaries as AVAs (American Viticultural Area's) .
Sonoma Valley, California in 3D
Understanding American Viticultural Areas
For more than 40 years, American Viticultural Area (AVA) designations have allowed vintners to more accurately describe the origin of their wines and help them build and enhance the reputation and value of the wines they produce. There are 242 established AVAs in the United States, with California having the most at 139, and no two regions are alike. AVAs can vary in size, ranging from a small region on a mountain side to an area spanning multiple states.
Many AVAs highlight special features like volcanic soil or high elevation, which gives their grapes a unique flavor.
Defining AVAs
The official boundaries for AVAs are detailed in the United States Code of Federal Regulations and reviewed, approved, and maintained by TTB . Laid out in an almost narrative format, the code describes boundaries following various hydrographic features and contour lines.
In order to ensure all AVAs are consistent, a strict process is in place for petitioning for a new AVA or for expanding an existing one.
Each AVA proposal must include:
- Proposed AVA name, which directly relates to the proposed location with external evidence to the significance of the name.
- A USGS map or maps that outline the proposed AVA boundaries and its description.
- Evidence for why the drawn boundary encompasses a unique region, including climate, soil composition, and/or physical characteristics that the boundary follow, such as elevation contours or rivers.
- A step by step list of distinguishing features that demarcate the boundary of the proposed AVA, following specific Federal Code of Regulations wording and guidelines.
Traditionally, AVA boundaries were carefully handrawn and edited on paper maps. But recently, TTB has digitized the 242 AVAs using ArcGIS, making the review and approval process easier. What once had to be be done by hand, has become simple clicks on a webmap.
Wine Regions vary from Coast to Coast
From Vineyard to Kitchen Counter
AVAs affect everything from the taste to the label.
AVAs help to make wines stand out from their competition. By highlighting the regions and micro-climates in which grapes are grown, certain wines and AVAs can attract loyalty with just a name.
Similar to the TTB's strict requirements in designating an AVA, they also have strict labeling requirements that encompass everything from type of wine to the location the grapes were grown and the percentage of the wine itself.
America's Wine Regions Are Expanding
While other organizations and universities have created partial or complete AVA datasets for their own uses, the TTB polygons and the CFR remain the official source. All 242 AVA can now be explored directly using the AVA Map Explorer on TTB's website.
AVAs are constantly changing and evolving. With 17 proposed AVAs in review, which are also visible in the Map Explorer, more wine flavors and varieties could be on the way soon — and that’s something we’ll drink to.
Cheers!
For any questions regarding AVAs, contact:
Karen A. Thornton
AVA Program Manager
TTB Regulations and Rulings Division