Upper Hiwassee Highlands is an American Viticultural Area (AVA) covering 690 square miles (1800 square kilometers) of land in North Carolina and Georgia. The area's classification as an officially defined appellation came in July, 2014, making it (along with the more-glamorous Malibu Coast appellation) one of the most recent AVAs in the United States. French-American hybrids and Vitis vinifera are planted throughout the area, with Vidal Blanc, Chambourcin, Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay among the most common varieties.
The AVA covers the catchment of the Hiwassee river, a tributary of the Tennessee river, located in the southern stretches of the Appalachian mountains. This forms a large, vaguely defined mountain basin, surrounded by higher mountain peaks. The gentle landscape of the Upper Hiwassee Highlands was given its AVA based on its differentiation from the surrounding land, which tends to be more rugged and mountainous.
Within the AVA, most vineyards are located between 2000-2400ft (600-730m) above sea level, an altitude that helps to temper the warm, humid climate usually associated with the southeastern U.S. Vines cover the gentle lower slopes of the mountains and the valley floor, and the gentle rises within the area ensure that there is plentiful sunlight throughout the growing season. This aids ripening, while a diurnal temperature swing helps grapes retain acidity by slowing the development of sugars and phenols. However, a range of topography and elevation throughout the area means that this can only ever be a generalization: a large variation of climate exists within the AVA.
Soils throughout the Upper Hiwassee Highlands are also quite varied, although they are largely based on sedimentary types, like sandstone. The relative deepness of the soil means that vines can grow deeply into the ground, and good drainage helps prevent rot and fungal diseases. A moderate level of fertility in these soils helps to slow canopy growth somewhat, allowing the vines to redirect energy into berry growth.
As the Upper Hiwassee Highlands AVA is in the first flushes of youth, the designation is yet to appear on wine bottles. However, there are a number of producers within the region who will soon start to use the designation, including Crane Creek Vineyards and the main petitioner, Calaboose Cellars.
