Overview
The American Viticultural Area (AVA) system was established in the United States in 1980 to formally recognise and define grape-growing regions based on geographic and climatic features. Administered by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB), the system allows producers to label wines with a specific AVA, highlighting the influence of location on the character of the wine.
The first designated AVA was Augusta, Missouri, approved in 1980, followed soon after by Napa Valley in California. The system was modelled in part on European appellation systems but focuses solely on geographical boundaries, without regulating grape varieties, yields, or production methods. To qualify, at least 85% of the grapes used must come from the named AVA.
Today, there are over 260 AVAs across the United States, ranging in size from large regions like the Columbia Valley to smaller, more defined areas such as Rutherford within Napa Valley. The AVA system continues to evolve, offering consumers and producers a framework for identifying wines tied to specific places while allowing flexibility in viticultural and winemaking practices.
