Willamette Valley AVA

Willamette Valley AVA is a wine -growing region in the U.S. state of Oregon. The modern viticulture cultivated there begins about mid-1960, recognition as American Viticultural Area (AVA ) was made in 1984. Below are other varieties, especially Pinot noir, Pinot gris, Chardonnay, Riesling and Cabernet Sauvignon.

Location

The area extends over the entire Willamette Valley, which surrounds the Willamette River in the northeast of the state. It ranges from the Columbia in the north to just before Eugene in the south, there ends the valley. In the east, the valley is bounded by the mountains of the Cascade Range and to the west of the Oregon Coast Range. The Willamette Valley is 13 500 square kilometers, the largest growing area of the state, most of the native to Oregon wineries are located in this area. In 2006, these were about 200 goods.

Climate

The climate of the valley is mild all year round, mostly, during the summer months usually remain cold winters and warm, humid and dry. Temperatures above 32 ° C are to be expected only at 5 to 15 days, only every 25 years, the temperature drops in the area below 0 ° C. Most rainfall is limited to the coldest seasons, late fall, winter and early spring. With Snow 13 to 25 centimeters per year also falls relatively little snow.

Subzones

Not all areas of the valley are suitable for wine growing, the emphasis is west of the river, the tributaries of the Willamette. The densest concentration by far of wineries can be found in Yamhill County.

Within the northern part of the Willamette Valley AVA since its recognition in 1984 further subordinate regions were registered as American Viticultural Area: Chehalem Mountains AVA, Dundee Hills AVA, Eola - Amity Hills AVA, McMinnville AVA, Ribbon Ridge AVA and Yamhill -Carlton District AVA.