An American Viticultural Area (AVA) is a designated appellation for American wine in the United States distinguishable by geographic, geologic, and climatic features, with boundaries defined by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) of the United States Department of the Treasury.[1] As of October 2024, there are 276 recognized AVAs in 34 states[2]—several of which are shared by two or more states. Over half (154) of the AVAs are in California.
American Viticultural Areas range in size from the Upper Mississippi River Valley AVA at 29,900 square miles (77,000 km2) across four states, to the Cole Ranch AVA in Mendocino County, California, at only 62 acres (25 ha). The Augusta AVA near the town of Augusta, Missouri, was the first recognized AVA, gaining the status on June 20, 1980.[3]
These AVAs are located in far northern California, east of Redding.
All of these AVAs are included in the geographic boundaries of the Central Coast AVA with the exceptions of Ben Lomond Mountain AVA and Santa Cruz Mountains AVA, which are surrounded by, but are specifically excluded from, the larger regional AVA.
Unlike other regions of California, there is no large regional AVA designation that includes the entire Central Valley wine growing region.
These AVAs are located in the southern Klamath Mountains of far northwestern California.
All of these AVAs are included within the geographic boundaries of the six-county North Coast AVA.
All of these AVAs are contained entirely within the geographic boundaries of the Sierra Foothills AVA.