Monticello AVA
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Monticello AVA (Wine Region) | |
| Appellation type | American Viticultural Area |
|---|---|
| Year established | 1984[1] |
| Years of wine industry | 30 |
| Country | USA |
| Part of | Virginia |
| Growing season | 211 days |
| Soil conditions | Granite-based clay |
| Total area | 800,000 acres (323,749 ha)[2] |
| Varietals produced | Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chambourcin, Chardonnay, Gewurztraminer, Malbec, Merlot, Muscat Canelli, Muscat of Alexandria, Norton, Orange Muscat, Petit Manseng, Petit Verdot, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir, Riesling, Rkatsiteli, Sauvignon Blanc, Seyval Blanc, Syrah, Tannat, Touriga Nacional, Traminette, Vidal Blanc, Viognier, Zinfandel[3] |
| No. of wineries | 24 |
The Monticello AVA is an American Viticultural Area located in the central Piedmont region of the Commonwealth of Virginia. The Monticello AVA includes most of the counties of Albemarle, Greene, Orange, and Nelson. The area is nestled along the eastern slopes of the Blue Ridge Mountains and encompasses the small ridge known as Southwest Mountain. There are approximately 30 varieties of grapes grown in the Monticello AVA. However, the most notable grapes grown in the area include Cabernet Franc, Chardonnay and Viognier. As the area matures, other varieties may be found that perform better for the terroir.
[edit] History
The earliest recorded attempts at winemaking in the area occurred in the 1770s, when Thomas Jefferson provided financial support to Italian winemaker, Phillip Mazzei, who made a small quantity of wine from the native grapes, but without much success. Jefferson gave Mazzei significant acreage less then one mile south of Monticello for the purpose of growing grapes. The area was planted in 1774. In 1776, with the advent of the Revolutionary war, Jefferson and George Washington dispatched Mazzei back to Italy to solicit war funding from the Duke of Tuscany. As was the practice at that time, Mazzei rented his home, in this instance to an imprisoned Hessian calvary general named Riedesel who had been captured at Saratoga and was imprisoned in the Charlottesville barracks. Riedesel moved his entire staff up to Mazzei's home and turned their horses out to pasture in the infant vineyards. The vineyards were destroyed. Records indicate that The wine was made in the area from the late 1800s until Prohibition in the 1920's and that the wine was exported to Europe where it won a number of awards.[citation needed] Winemaking ceased in the area during and after Prohibition, but eventually was restarted in the 1970's, primarily by the Zonin family from Italy, who founded the Barboursville Vineyards in Orange County.[citation needed] Gabrielle Rausse, who came at the behest of the Zonins, went on to plant dozens of vineyards, including Afton and Jefferson.
[edit] Wineries
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[edit] References
- ^ Code of Federal Regulations. "§ 9.48 Monticello." Title 27: Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms; Part 9 — American Viticultural Areas; Subpart C — Approved American Viticultural Areas. Retrieved Jan. 31, 2008.
- ^ Wine Institute, The (2008). "American Viticultural Areas by State". Retrieved Jan. 31, 2008.
- ^ Appellation America (2007). "Monticello (AVA): Appellation Description". Retrieved Jan. 30, 2008.
