Ohio River Valley AVA
Established in 1987, this is the largest viticultural area in the United States. It covers parts of four states (Indiana, kentucky, Ohio, and west Virginia) along the Ohio River and encompasses a total of 16,640,000 acres. For all its size, the acreage planted in wine grapes is quite small—less than 600 acres. The Kanawha River Valley AVA is a 64,000-acre subzone located in the southeastern corner of Ohio and the southwestern part of West Virginia. It has approximately 100 acres of vineyards. This AVA is home to a large number of wineries that produce fruit wines. Vitis vinifera (such as Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay) are difficult to grow here so hybrid grapes like Aurora, Catawba, Seyval Blanc, Vidal Blanc, and Vignoles are the most widely planted. Some wineries that wish to make Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, or Merlot wines purchase crushed grapes from other areas, such as California. Such crushed grapes are typically shipped in containers chilled to just above freezing in order to keep the grape must as fresh as possible on its cross-country journey.
The New Wine Lovers Companion, 2nd Edition, by Ron Herbst and Sharon Tyler Herbst. Copyright © (1) 2003, 1995 by Ron Herbst and Sharon Tyler Herbst. Reprinted by arrangement with Barron's Educational Series, Inc.