American Viticultural Areas

An American Viticultural Area (AVA) is a federally designated grape-growing region in the United States, defined by unique geographic features such as climate, soil, and elevation. The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) establishes and approves the official boundaries of each AVA. These designations help vintners showcase the distinctive qualities of wines made from grapes grown in a specific area, and allow consumers to connect a wine’s character to its place of origin.

As of 2025, there are 276 established AVAs across the United States. California leads the nation with 154 AVAs, a testament to the state's extraordinary diversity of microclimates and growing conditions. Winegrapes are grown in 49 of California’s 58 counties, underscoring the widespread importance of viticulture throughout the state.