Lewis-Clark Valley AVA
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Lewis-Clark Valley is Idaho's third American Viticultural Areas (AVA) officially established by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB), Treasury on May 20, 2016. It borders the northern part of the established Columbia Valley AVA. The region encompasses 479 square miles (306,560 acres) with nearly 100 acres (40 ha) under vine throughout the Lewis-Clark Valley between the Clearwater and mid-Snake Rivers and their tributaries.[2] About 72%, 219,838 acres (343.497 sq mi), is located in Idaho with the rest in Washington. The topography consists primarily of deep, V-notched canyons, low plateaus, and bench lands formed by the two rivers. There were 3 wineries within the appellation, as well as 16 commercially-producing vineyards with elevations approximately below 2,000 feet (610 m). Lewis-Clark Valley boundaries forced the realignment of the existing Columbia Valley viticultural area by expanding into its area based on topography, climate and soil conditions. The realignment more accurately separated the terroir differences between the two appellations. Roughly about 72% (219,838 acres (88,965 ha)) of Lewis-Clark Valley is located in Idaho and the rest in Washington.[1][2]
| Wine region | |
| Type | American Viticultural Area |
|---|---|
| Year established | 2016[1] |
| Years of wine industry | 152[2] |
| Country | United States |
| Part of | Idaho, Washington |
| Other regions in Idaho, Washington | Columbia Valley AVA |
| Growing season | 7.5 months average |
| Precipitation (annual average) | 11–22 inches (280–560 mm)[3] |
| Soil conditions | loess, wind-deposited, nutrient-rich silt, mollisols [3] |
| Total area | 479 square miles (306,560 acres)[3] |
| Size of planted vineyards | 100 acres (40 ha)[3] |
| No. of vineyards | 16[4] |
| Varietals produced | Blaufränkisch(Lemberger), Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenere, Chardonnay, Gewürztraminer, Grenache, Malbec, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Pinot Noir, Sangiovese, Syrah, Tempranillo, Muscat, Pinot Gris, Riesling, Rkatsiteli, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon. Viognier, Zinfandel[5] |
| No. of wineries | 9[3] |
Vinifera growing in the Northwest originated in the Lewis-Clark Valley AVA, dating back to 1872. Varietals such as Petit Syrah, Petit Verdot, and Cabernet Franc were cultivated. By 1908, 40 varieties of grapes were being cultivated. Two years later, the town of Lewiston voted a ban on alcoholic beverages and the industry crashed. Most of the wine was turned into vinegar and winemaking virtually disappeared until the late 1990s.[2]
Lewis-Clark Valley winemakers are using locally grown grapes to create wines that compete on the national market. After its AVA recognition, the Lewis-Clark Valley, with steep river canyons and plateaus, has the state's lowest elevation vineyards that successfully ripen a wide variety of wine grapes with some vinifera originating from 1872.[2]
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