35-666: Mt. Harlan is an American Viticultural Area (AVA) located in San Benito County , California . It was established on December 17, 1990 by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) within California’s multi-county Central Coast AVA . It lies within the Gabilan Mountains at elevations of 1,800 feet (550 m) to 2,200 feet (670 m) above sea level where the soil is predominantly limestone . The AVA
70-549: A century. In the 1880s, the Jewitt family, founders of the town of White Salmon, Washington , built terraces on a wide south-facing slope on the bluff above Bingen, Washington . They planted American vines that they had brought with them from Illinois . Also, the pioneering Balfour and Meress families brought grape cuttings to the Columbia Gorge. John Balfour, the youngest son of English Lord Balfour, planted grape vines in
105-458: A continental climate, better suited to warm weather varieties. Vineyards on both sides of the river share the terroir beneficial to the 1,300 acres (526 ha) under vine among 90+ vineyards which cultivate grapes that garnered the attention from regional vintners. On the Washington terraces , south-facing sloped vineyards receive the most sunshine and those closest to the mountains are among
140-658: A region within the 40 miles (64 km) Columbia River Gorge and straddles the Oregon and Washington state border. The AVA was established by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau {TTB) , Treasury on July 9, 2004 after reviewing the petition submitted by Mark Wharry, on behalf of the Columbia River Gorge Wine Growers Association, proposing the viticultural area named "Columbia Gorge." The 280 square miles (179,200 acres) AVA
175-427: A result, the topography produces different microclimates from west to east as annual rainfall decreases approximately one inch per mile. The western section of the appellation receives an average of 36 inches (914 mm) of rainfall annually and the eastern section a mere 10 inches (254 mm). The western vineyards have more of a maritime influenced climate, ideal for cooler climate grapes and eastern vineyards have
210-406: A westbound course, carved the Columbia Gorge, with its sides of steep cliffs , into the terrain. These sides range from sheer rock faces, consisting of volcanic outcroppings of igneous and metamorphic rock, to gentle stair-step benchlands formed by prehistoric lava flows . These benchlands have deep soil and good sun exposure, making them desirable for vineyards. Through the narrow gap in
245-643: A wine is labeled with an AVA, at least 85% of the grapes that make up the wine must have been grown in the AVA, and the wine must be fully finished within the state where the AVA is located. The boundaries of AVAs are defined by the Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB), a component of the United States Department of the Treasury . The TTB defines AVAs at the request of wineries and other petitioners . Prior to
280-401: A wine to be labeled with a state or county appellation, at least 75% of the grapes used to make the wine must have been grown within the boundary of the appellation, and the wine must be fully finished within the state in which the appellation is located. Some states have more stringent rules, such as California , which requires 100% of the grapes used to make the wine be from California and that
315-533: Is a designated wine grape -growing region in the United States , providing an official appellation for the mutual benefit of wineries and consumers. Winemakers frequently want their consumers to know about the geographic pedigree of their wines, as wines from a particular area can possess distinctive characteristics. Consumers often seek out wines from specific AVAs, and certain wines of particular pedigrees can claim premium prices and loyal customers. If
350-506: Is based on a combination of topographic, soil, and climatic factors that contrast with the nearby Columbia Valley and Willamette Valley viticultural areas. Much of the boundary line is the 2,000 ft (610 m) elevation line, which encloses lower elevations and flatter agricultural areas with loamy soils. Above the 2,000 ft (610 m) elevation boundary line the terrain becomes steeper and has gravelly soils more suitable for timber. The Columbia River, twisting and turning on
385-581: Is distinguished by its proximity to the Cascade crest in the west and the persistent winds passing through the Gorge creating radically different microclimates. Utilizing the Amerine-Winkler method, Columbia Gorge has different cumulative heat summation during the grape growing season than nearby areas. To the west is a cooler, marine-influenced climate where it rains 36 inches (914 mm) per year; to
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#1732772208998420-507: Is located about 60 miles (97 km) east of Portland, Oregon, straddles the Columbia River for 15 miles (24 km), and extends into south-central Washington and north-central Oregon. The area surrounds Hood River, Oregon , and White Salmon, Washington , and is generally bordered by B Z Corner, Washington, on the north; Lyle, Washington , on the east; Parkdale, Oregon , on the south; and Vinzenz Lausmann State Park, Oregon , on
455-486: Is not always the case. See map on the right showing the outline of the Paso Robles AVA , California's largest in total area, and the eleven distinct AVAs contained within it. In 2018, the second session of the 115th Congress recognized the contribution of American Viticultural Areas to the economy. The Blunt-Merkley Resolution passed unanimously. It noted that an AVA allows vintners to describe more accurately
490-478: The American Journal of Enological Viticulture (vol. 33, pp.233–236) . The most-often observed consequences of the higher winds within the affected AVAs include a reduction in canopy size and density of grapes on the vines. Also, vines are less prone to disease, based on the wind's drying of wet plant surfaces on where fungal spores or bacteria can land. The volume of wind is also a key factor in determining
525-548: The Cascade Mountains , the Gorge funnels the Pacific’s moist marine air from the west and the drier inland air from the east, back and forth depending on the fluctuating air pressure . The Columbia Gorge viticultural area benefits from these prevailing winds , which moderate temperatures that otherwise might be warmer in the summer and cooler in the winter. The Columbia Gorge appellation climate drastically changes and
560-589: The Cole Ranch AVA in Mendocino County , California, at only 60 acres (24 ha). The Augusta AVA , which occupies the area around the town of Augusta, Missouri , was the first recognized AVA, gaining the status on June 20, 1980. There are currently 276 AVAs spread across 34 states, with over half (154) in California. An AVA may be located within one or more larger AVAs. For example,
595-660: The Santa Clara Valley AVA and Livermore Valley AVA are located within the boundaries of the San Francisco Bay AVA , which is itself located within the Central Coast AVA . In such cases, the wine may be labeled with any of the relevant AVAs, but winemakers generally label wines with the most specific AVA allowed for each wine. Smaller AVAs are often perceived to be associated with smaller production and higher quality wines, though this
630-476: The Columbia Gorge. The region has about 90+ vineyards, growing a wide variety of grapes, including Syrah , Pinot noir , Chardonnay , Gewürztraminer , Zinfandel , Cabernet Sauvignon , Pinot gris , Riesling , and Sangiovese . Lewis and Clark made the Columbia Gorge famous when they passed through on their way to the Pacific Ocean in 1805. Growers have raised grapes in the Columbia Gorge for over
665-772: The TTB regulations (27 C.F.R. § 9.12) prescribes the standards for petitions for the establishment or modification of AVAs. Petitions to establish an AVA must include the following: Once a petition is accepted as complete, the TTB may choose to seek public input on the proposal and at its sole discretion may approve the proposed AVA. Before the AVA system, wine appellations of origin in the United States were designated based on state or county boundaries. All of these appellations were grandfathered into federal regulations and may appear on wine labels as designated places of origin in lieu of an AVA, such as Sonoma County . In order for
700-468: The TTB's creation in 2003, the Treasury’s Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) received and handled petitions for viticultural areas, wine production and labeling. Section 4.25(e)(2) of the regulations (27 C.F.R. § 4.25(e)(2)) outlines the procedure for proposing an AVA and provides that any interested party may petition the TTB to establish a grape-growing region as an AVA. Section 9.12 of
735-671: The amount of irrigation needed for optimum vine growth. Annual rainfall decreases approximately one inch per mile from west to east within the Columbia Gorge viticultural area from 36 in (914 mm) on the west side of the Hood River , to 10 in (254 mm) near its eastern boundary at Lyle, Washington . By comparison, west of the Columbia Gorge viticultural area boundary the Bonneville Dam averages 77.54 in (1,969.52 mm) and Skamania, Washington , averages 85.49 in (2,171.45 mm) of annual rainfall. To
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#1732772208998770-678: The area are the Steeper McElroy, Undusk Gravelly Loam, Husum Gravelly Loam, Rock Outcrop, Bins-Bindle, Yallani, and Hesslan-Skyline series. The Columbia Gorge geography is unique where the Cascade Mountains are bisected by the Columbia River through a very narrow passage creating a natural wind funnel. The appellation land area straddles across the river as it traverses on the Washington-Oregon border. As
805-641: The available water capacity is high. Effective rooting depth is 60 in (152 cm) or more. Soils include Chemawa, Underwood Loam, McGowen, Wyest Silt Loam, Van Horn, Parkdale Loam, and Oak Grove Loam series. By contrast, the soils immediately surrounding the Columbia Gorge viticultural area, both above the 2,000 ft (610 m) elevation line and eastward to the Columbia Valley, are generally gravelly with higher permeability. These soils typically support sloped timber areas at more than 2,000 ft (610 m) above sea level. Examples of soils outside
840-414: The boundaries of the Columbia Gorge viticultural area are silty loams, as opposed to the more gravelly soils found outside the area. As the valleys on both the Washington and Oregon sides of the area slope up to the surrounding hills, the terrain becomes much steeper, and the soil types change noticeably. Permeability of the silty loams found within the Columbia Gorge viticultural area is slow to moderate, and
875-412: The early 1900s near the current location of Lyle, Washington . Leonis and Elizah Meress brought grape cuttings to the area from their native Adele Nord , a village in one of France’s coldest regions. Some of the vinifera vines they planted are still alive and have withstood temperatures well below zero. Viticulture in the Columbia Gorge was renewed in the early 1960s when experimental plots were planted on
910-526: The east it’s a continental arid high desert climate with just 10 inches (254 mm) of annual rainfall. This extreme variance of climate means the area can successfully grow a wide range of classical varieties. The wind's effect on viticulture is noted during the grapevine bud-break to fruit-set period, according to a 1982 article, " Influence of Windbreaks and Climatic Region on Diurnal Fluctuation of Leaf Water Potential, Stomatal Conductance, and Leaf Temperature of Grapevines " by Freeman, Kliewer, and Stern in
945-424: The east of the boundary line, The Dalles, Oregon , averages 14.52 in (36.88 cm) and Yakima, Washington , averages 8.21 in (208.53 mm) of rainfall annually. The average growing temperatures within the Columbia Gorge viticultural area range from 62 °F (17 °C) degrees ( Appleton and Wind River ) to 65 °F (18 °C) ( Hood River, Oregon ), as compared to 61 °F (16 °C) to
980-418: The origin of their wine, while helping vintners to build and enhance the reputation and value of the wines produced. AVAs also allow consumers to attribute a given quality, reputation, or other characteristic to a wine made from grapes grown in an AVA. AVAs also help consumers identify what they purchase. Columbia Gorge AVA Columbia Gorge is an American Viticultural Area (AVA) that encompasses
1015-519: The south facing slopes of Underwood Mountain . Later, commercial plots were planted under the direction of Washington State University . As of 2023, the Columbia Gorge Winegrowers Association comprises 90 or more vineyards and 50 wineries. Currently, 1,300 acres (526 ha) are under vine in the Columbia Gorge viticultural area with more being planted each year. The Columbia Gorge viticultural area’s boundary
1050-547: The west in Skamania and 71.6 °F (22.0 °C) to the east in The Dalles. In general, grapes grown in this viticultural area are early varietals, such as Pinot Noir and Gewurztraminer, which require fewer high temperature days. By contrast, the Columbia Valley viticultural area is able to grow much later varieties, e.g., Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, due to significantly higher degree growing days . Soil types within
1085-741: The west, to Rowena, Oregon and Lyle, Washington in the east. It includes the river valleys of the Hood and Deschutes in Oregon, and the Klickitat and White Salmon in Washington . As the AVA lies east of the summits of nearby Mount Hood and Mount Adams , it is in rain shadow of the Cascade Volcanoes . The region is significantly drier than the Portland metropolitan area to
Mt. Harlan AVA - Misplaced Pages Continue
1120-413: The west. Annual precipitation ranges from 30 in (762 mm) at the western end of the area, to only 18 in (457 mm) in the east. Elevation in the region varies considerably, increasing as one travels from the Columbia River into the plateaus on either side, as the strong Columbia Gorge winds significantly influences the region's climate. This allows a wide variety of grapes to be grown in
1155-530: The west. The area lies due west with an adjacent border to the vast Columbia Valley viticultural area. Due to the significant gradations of climate and geography found in the gorge , the AVA exhibits a wide range of terroir in a relatively small region; it is marketed as a "world of wine in 40 miles". Columbia Gorge lies in four counties; Hood River and Wasco counties in Oregon, and Skamania and Klickitat counties in Washington. The region stretches from Hood River, Oregon and Underwood, Washington in
1190-640: The wine be fully finished within the state. Washington requires 95% of the grapes in a Washington wine be grown in Washington, although notably the Columbia Valley AVA , Columbia Gorge AVA , and Walla Walla Valley AVA are shared with Oregon. AVAs vary widely in size, ranging from the Upper Mississippi River Valley AVA , at more than 19 million acres (29,900 square miles (77,000 km )) across four states ( Illinois , Iowa , Minnesota , and Wisconsin ), to
1225-574: Was established as the result of a petition to the ATF by Josh Jensen and the Calera Wine Company , the only commercial winery in the appellation at the time. 36°43′31″N 121°21′30″W / 36.7254117°N 121.3583208°W / 36.7254117; -121.3583208 This wine region article is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . American Viticultural Area An American Viticultural Area ( AVA )
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