Augusta AVA
| Wine region | |
View of the Augusta AVA from Montelle Winery located on the hill top region around the city of Augusta.
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| Type | American Viticultural Area |
|---|---|
| Year established | 1980 |
| Country | United States |
| Part of | Missouri, Ozark Mountain AVA |
| Climate region | Continental |
| Total area | 15 square miles (39 km2) |
| Grapes produced | Cabernet Sauvignon, Chambourcin, Chardonel, Chardonnay, Couderc noir, Norton, Rayon d'Or, Seyval blanc, St. Vincent, Vidal blanc, Vignoles |
The Augusta AVA was the first federally approved American Viticultural Area gaining the status on June 20, 1980, eight months before the Napa Valley AVA in northern California. Located entirely within the state of Missouri, the boundaries of this wine region encompass 15 square miles (39 km2) around the city of Augusta near the intersection of St. Charles County, Warren County and Franklin County.
The area around the present day city of Augusta was founded in 1836 by Leonard Harold, a follower of Daniel Boone, as a riverboat landing along the Missouri. The town was originally named Mount Pleasant with the riverboat landing known as Augusta Bend. In 1855, the town was incorporated as the city of Augusta. In 1859, Georg and Friedrich Muench founded one of the earliest wineries in the area, Mount Pleasant Winery. Flooding in the Missouri River valley caused the river to change course in 1872, drying up the area's riverboat landing and leaving a distinct soil type in the area between the town and the river. The area's early vineyards were planted in the 1880s and the area began receiving recognition for the distinctive flavors and profile of the wine being produced there. In the later parts of the 19th and early 20th century, the production volume from the area helped the Missouri wine industry compete with Ohio for market share east of the Rocky Mountains. The advent of Prohibition had a dramatic effect on the area causing the closure of local wineries and the uprooting of vineyards. A revival period occurred in the 1960s that lead to the founding of many of the area's current wineries.
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