Loramie Creek is an American Viticultural Area (AVA) in south-western Ohio, covering a modest 3600 acres (1455ha) of Shelby County. Some of Ohio's best red wines made from Baco Noir, a Franco-American hybrid grape variety, are said to come from the appellation, although at present there are no wineries operating within the AVA's boundaries.
Loramie Creek AVA covers the area between the Loramie and Tuttle creeks, both tributaries of the Great Miami River (itself a tributary of the Mississippi). The AVA is bordered to the north by State Route 47 and is directly south-west of Sidney, the county seat. As in much of Ohio, the climate in Loramie Creek is continental, but benefits from a small amount of warming influence from Lake Erie, 100 miles (160km) to the north.
The dark, loamy soils in the AVA have led producers from other parts of Ohio to seek out grapes from Loramie Creek. These soils are not well drained and have a high level of organic matter – soil conditions not usually conducive to premium viticulture. However, Baco Noir thrives in heavier soils like Loramie Creek's, leading to the high quality of the grapes grown here.
The Loramie Creek AVA was established in December 1982, just a few months after Isle St. George, making it one of the first AVAs in the US to be formalized. Like Isle St. George, it is also one of the smallest.
