Shenandoah Valley is an American Viticultural Area (AVA) in the Appalachian region of the eastern US, covering land along the western edge of Virginia and spilling into the easternmost portion of West Virginia. The wines from the region are made from vinifera varieties such as Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc, with smaller quantities from hybrid grapes such as Chambourcin and Traminette.
The AVA covers 2.4 million acres (970,000ha) surrounding the Shenandoah River on its 150-mile (240km) course from western Virginia to its confluence with the larger Potomac River, of which it is a tributary. The valley is bounded to the east by the Blue Ridge Mountains and the west by the Alleghenies. Although not particularly high, these two ranges create a particular mesoclimate for the valley between them, protecting it from the prevailing winds blowing in from the Atlantic coast, 100 miles (160km) to the east.
The growing season in the valley is distinctly warmer and drier than in neighboring areas, which don’t receive the same natural protection from the nearby mountains. The annual rainfall here is one half that of the Virginia average, but would still be considered very high by a grower from Texas or New Mexico. Despite these more-favorable climatic conditions, winter still poses significant risks to Shenandoah Valley vineyards, with heavy snowfall and winter freezes often killing off weak or less-well-adapted vines.
Most of the land in the Shenandoah Valley has been carved out by the river over thousands of years and is underpinned by limestone, which has formed into honeycombed caves of stalagmites and stalactites at various points. This stone is significantly present in the AVA's better soils, and brings the benefits of both free drainage and balanced water retention.
The Shenandoah Valley AVA was approved in 1987, at the same time as the smaller Virginia sub-AVAs of North Fork of Roanoke and Rocky Knob. It should not be confused with the California Shenandoah Valley in the Sierra Foothills of California, where the climate is considerably warmer and drier.
