©Sand Castle Winery
Central Delaware Valley is an American Viticultural Area (AVA) covering a small patch of land along the banks of the Delaware River in both New Jersey and Pennsylvania. A mix of Vitis vinifera and hybrid grape varieties, including Chardonnay, Riesling, Cabernet Sauvignon and Delaware, can be found planted in the AVA's few vineyards.
The boundaries of the AVA cover 96,000 acres (39,000ha) along a 20-mile (32km) stretch of the river directly north of Philadelphia. The majority of the AVA lies on the New Jersey side of the river, in Hunterdon and Mercer Counties, but most of the vineyards in the region lie on the Pennsylvanian side, in Bucks County.
Central Delaware Valley's inland position makes viticulture challenging in the continental climate here, although some temperature-moderating breezes come from the Delaware River, cooling vineyards in summer and bringing warmth in winter. Despite this, the cold winters here can be difficult for growers, and vines are often buried during the coldest months to insulate them from freezes. The rocky shale soils in the area are moderately well suited to viticulture, providing good drainage in the vineyard sites.
The Central Delaware Valley AVA was established in 1984, becoming the first such wine zone in New Jersey and joining the already-established Lake Erie and Lancaster Valley AVAs in Pennsylvania. Viticulture has not spread widely here and in the early 21st Century, only a few wineries are producing Central Delaware Valley wines.
