Arkansas Mountain is an American Viticultural Area (AVA) in the US state of Arkansas. It is home to the smaller Altus AVA, and is entirely contained within the larger Ozark Mountain region, which spills into neighboring Missouri and Oklahoma. The region covers nearly three million acres (1.2 million hectares), making it one of the largest single-state AVAs in the country. Native American and hybrid grape varieties do best here, with Muscadine, Niagara and Catawba making up the majority of plantings.
The AVA covers land north of the Arkansas River in the north-western corner of the state, spreading approximately 100 miles (160km) from the town of Conway in the east to Fort Smith in the west. Most wineries are concentrated in the much smaller Altus AVA, where elevations above the river create climatic conditions perfect for grape growing. The Arkansas Mountain appellation is sandwiched neatly between the Ouchita and Boston mountain ranges.
It is these mountain ranges that make Arkansas Mountain suitable for viticulture. The Boston mountains in particular block the area from cold weather systems from the north, leading to temperatures that are considerably higher than the surrounding regions. Vineyards are planted on hillsides and at elevations where air can drain freely off the vines, preventing pockets of cold air that could cause frost. In the hot, dry summers, the Arkansas River provides cooling breezes to the vineyards, helping to slow the ripening process. This means grapes have more time to develop complex flavors while retaining their acidity.
The soils in the viticultural areas of the Arkansas Mountain AVA are largely alluvial, having been deposited by the Mississippi and Arkansas Rivers over time. These soils are usually gravel or sandy loam, and their rapid drainage and poor fertility make them perfect for grape growing.
The first grapes were planted in the region in the 1870s, by settlers who found a steady stream of demand from the railroad workers and coal miners who moved through the area. Many of Arkansas Mountain's growers survived the years of Prohibition by switching to the production of table grapes, and at the repeal of Prohibition in 1933, there was still a sizable industry in the area. Arkansas Mountain was established as an AVA in 1986, but today very few of the region's wineries actually use the designation. Instead, they are more likely to use the Altus AVA or the much larger Ozark Mountain AVA.
