Yadkin Valley AVA

Yadkin Valley AVA ( recognized since 9 December 2002) is an American Viticultural Area in the U.S. state of North Carolina. The area covers completely the administrative regions of Wilkes County, Surry County and Yadkin County and extends in part to the County Davie County, Davidson County, Forsyth County and Stokes County. The area extends to the northwest of the state along the valley of the Yadkin River.

History

Wine production in this region since the early years of the 17th century by European immigrants. First, here wines of the American varieties Scuppernong and Muscadine were produced. Experiments with European noble grapes hit mostly fail. Thomas Jefferson also experimented in Monticello with imported seedlings. All attempts despite the viticulture in this area had little success. Main source of income has long been the cultivation of the tobacco plant.

Since the 1970s, however, a crisis was from this business segment. Some of the tobacco growers began to create new vineyards and benefited from the extensive research that has been done in the United States since the 1950s. By applying quarantine stations succeeded in introducing healthy seedlings from Europe. Through clonal selection were appropriate, be provided to the climate and soil adapted Planzmaterial.

The Surry Community College in Dobson came here to an important mediating role in the region. The end of 2002 was the wine region by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives as American Viticultural Area, and thus recognized as a protected designation of origin. Since 2005 also offers the Davidson County Community College courses appropriate to the attainment of qualifications in viticulture and enology.

Geography and climate

The Yadkin Valley is located at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Sometimes the general growing conditions are compared with those of the French Burgundy.