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Regional | Local | Desirability | Physicality | Code & Sensitivity A Viticulture Designation
What is it?
An American Viticultural Area (AVA) references adistinctappellationofgrapeoriginandisused onwinelabels.AnAVAisaspecific,demarcated grape-growing region compromised of specific geographic or climatic features which distinguish it from surrounding regions, having a unique effect on the area’s grape production. Both vintners and consumers can benefit from this highly esteemed designation as it verifies the geographic pedigree of the wine and the characteristics it possesses, as well as justifies the value of the wine. Wines using a label that features an AVA notation require that a minimum of 85% of the grapes used to make that particular wine have been grown in the specified AVA and finished within the same state that the area is (TBT.gov).
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Why did Lake Chelan Receive this?
Interestingly, the Lake Chelan AVA exists entirely within the larger Columbia Valley AVA, indicating how unique this area must be to receive such recognition within an already recognizedarea.Thenationallyrecognizedarea can produce unique grapes with distinguishing nutrients, mineral values, and textures. This is all due to Lake Chelan’s high elevation, its ice age conception, which resulted in its unique soil composition, and finally, because it possesses a more temperate climate than any nearby regions.
The Lake Chelan AVA is notably different from others for its ability to nurture grapes under the “lake effect,” a condition that results in the most favorable temperatures for a longer growing season and reduced risk of frost.
What are the boundaries?
The Lake Chelan AVA ranges from 1,100 ft to 2,000 ft asl, wrapping along the shorelines of Lake Chelan from its southernmost tip and approximately 12 miles up the lake just past the city of Manson.
Why does it matter to this project?
Increased tourism/exposure opportunities for my project. A demonstrated public interest in natural systems in the are. Give the people what they want! (aka my project)
The Lake Chelan Basin in Washington State is unique among grape growing regions in the stateduetoitsgeology,whichwasshapedby glaciers rather than the Missoula Floods. The resulting soil is rich in minerals and nutrients and, combined with the area’s microclimate, allows grapes to fully ripen while still retaining bright acidity. This makes the region suitable for grape growing. Lake Chelan itself formed approximately 15,000 to 18,000 years ago during the Vashon/Wisconsin glacial period, as a result of the interaction between the Chelan Glacier and the Okanogan-Columbia Valley lobe of the Cordilleran ice sheet. The lake consists of two basins: the Lucerne basin, which is deep and fjord-like, and the Wapato basin, which is relatively wide and shallow in comparison. The lake is approximately 55 miles long and has a maximum depth of approximately 1,500 feet. The narrowest part of the lake is located at a constriction known as “The Narrows,” which is a shallow ledge 135 feet below the surface of the lake.
