Lehigh Valley AVA
The Lehigh Valley AVA is an American Viticultural Area located in the Lehigh Valley of Pennsylvania. The AVA includes portions of Lehigh, Northampton, Berks, Schuylkill, Carbon, and Monroe counties. The area includes the towns from Jim Thorpe to Easton, portions of the Schuylkill Valley, the Brodhead Creek watershed in Monroe County, and part of the Swatara Creek watershed to the west.
| Wine region | |
| Type | American Viticultural Area |
|---|---|
| Year established | 2008[1] |
| Country | United States |
| Part of | Pennsylvania |
| Climate region | Continental |
| Precipitation (annual average) | 40-50" |
| Soil conditions | Karst, slate |
| Size of planted vineyards | 230 acres (93 ha)[2] |
| Varietals produced | Cabernet Sauvignon, Chambourcin, Chardonnay, Pinot noir, Riesling, Vidal blanc[2] |
| No. of wineries | 9[3] |
The wine region includes 230 acres (93 ha) of vineyards, planted to several Vitis vinifera and French-American hybrid grape varieties. The climate of Lehigh Valley has been compared to the cooler climates of central or northern Europe, favoring the production of French-American hybrid grapes, especially Chambourcin. 15 to 20 percent of the wine produced in Pennsylvania is made from grapes grown in the Lehigh Valley AVA.[2]
The region has a humid continental climate (mostly Dfa/Dfb) and is located in hardiness zones 6b and 6a.
References
- Code of Federal Regulations. "§ 9.120 Lehigh Valley." Archived 2008-07-10 at the Wayback Machine Title 27: Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms; Part 9 — American Viticultural Areas; Subpart C — Approved American Viticultural Areas. Retrieved May 16, 2008.
- Lauer-Williams, Kathy (2008). "Lehigh Valley wineries earn recognition". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Apr. 17, 2008.
- Lehigh Valley Wine Trail (2008). "Pennsylvania's Fastest Growing Wine Region". Retrieved May 16, 2008.