What does AVA mean in FARMING & AGRICULTURE

An American Viticultural Area, more commonly referred to as an AVA, is a designated wine grape-growing region in the United States. An AVA is defined by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB). AVAs provide geographical indication denoting the specific land area in which grapes of certain qualities can be found; it does not denote any particular wine making or grape growing practices used within this area.

The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) considers many factors when determining an AVA such as climate, geography, soils characteristics, elevation and other physical features which distinguish one growing region from another. The application process for establishing an AVA involves evaluation of scientific evidence gathered by applicants who are typically wineries, vineyards or other government agencies.

Any individual grower or winery may submit a petition to create a new AVA with backing documentation such as maps, soil studies, climate data etc to support their request. The application must demonstrate that the proposed AVA meets all criteria established by TTB before it will be granted status as an Approved Viticultural Area (AVA).

Having an approved viticultural area for a specific region has several benefits. It provides consumers information on origin of their wines and allows producers to label wines with its geographic origin. Additionally it acts as a quality assurance or mark of distinction for the local wines produced within that specific region.

Yes - while there is no legal distinction between wines made from grapes grown in approved AVAs compared to those outside approved regions; certain regulations may vary depending on whether they are produced inside or outside an approved AVA. For example only wines made from grapes grown within specific geographic boundaries can use its name when labelling their products.

Wine labels which use varietal names such as Cabernet Sauvignon cannot have additional statements identifying their origin if they were not made using grapes from within an approved viticultural area; however generic regional terms such as "California" or "Northwest" may be used alongside varietal names to provide consumers with more information about the origins of their product.

No - changing labels is subject to approval by both TTB and FDA so you must obtain formal approval prior to initiating any changes even if those changes are related to adding information regarding origin and/or vintage year of your product. Labels must also follow producer declarations outlined in the Federal Alcohol Administration Act.

Yes - there is potential for two distinct areas located within same US state but sharing similar characteristics have been granted single unified viticulture area designation e.g Sonoma Valley & Carneros share same “Sonoma” appellation while Monterey & San Benito share “Monterey County” appellation despite being two separate regions located in California.