Augusta AVA
Augusta AVA is a since June 20, 1980 by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives recognized wine region in the U.S. state of Missouri. It is the oldest American Viticultural Area in the United States and has been defined eight months before the very famous Napa Valley AVA in northern California.
Location
The vineyards here are spread over areas near the eponymous town of Augusta at the intersection of the boundaries of the administrative units of St. Charles County, Warren County and Franklin County .. The area is located about 60 km west of St. Louis on the Missouri River. The area is known for the flood plains and the alluvial.
History
The area around Augusta was settled in 1836 by Europeans. The present city of Augusta was founded by Leonard Harold, from the wake of Daniel Boone, as a boat dock on the Missouri. The original name of Augusta was Mount Pleasant and the boat dock was called Augusta Bend. In 1855 the settlement was given its present name. Four years later, Georg Friedrich Muench and laid the foundations of the still existing winery Mount Pleasant Winery. In 1872 a flood changed the course of the Missouri River. The former boat dock silted up and offered on the alluvial land to plant new vines. The late 1880s until the beginning of the 20th century flourished the wine of the region and wine from Missouri was delivered to the eastern foothills of the Rocky Mountains. However, the Prohibition brought the wine to a complete halt and it was not until the early 1960s until new plantings were made. A whole range of today's existing wineries dates from this period.
Since 2003, the wines of the area are also available in Germany and have won good marks in the German wine magazine achieve Selection from Mainz.
Varieties
The Augusta AVA is now planted with some European noble grapes as Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay and Merlot. But most important grape variety is a descendant of the wild grape Vitis aestivalis, the variety Norton .. The French hybrid vines Chambourcin, Chardonel, Couderc Noir, Rayon d'Or, Seyval Blanc, Vidal Blanc and St. Vincent, however, are also popular.