"AVA". It’s a term you’ve no doubt heard, but might not know
much more about other than it means “wine region”. Well, in this edition of
“From the Vine to Your Glass” we’re going to take a look at what AVAs are, and
briefly explore the AVAs that make up Washington
state.
AVA is short for “American Viticultural Area” and is a grape
growing region distinguished from others by geographic features. The boundaries
for these areas are requested by wineries, and actually set by the Alcohol and
Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (or TTB for short). To name an AVA on a wine
label, at least 85% of the grapes used to make the wine must be from that
specific area. Here in Washington,
we have some very well known AVAs, and others that you may have not have ever
heard of. Washington
has 12 AVAs at this time, but that is expected to change in the near future. So
what and where are they? Let’s take a look see shall we?
