Yadkin Valley wine region

Yadkin Valley AVA

Wine region
Vineyard in Swan Creek, Yadkin Valley
Type	American Viticultural Area
Year established	2002
Country	United States
Part of	North Carolina
Other regions in North Carolina	Haw River Valley AVA
Sub-regions	Swan Creek AVA
Climate region	Humid subtropical
Total area	1,400,000 acres (5,666 km2)
Size of planted vineyards	400 acres (162 ha)
Grapes produced	Aleatico, Barbera, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chambourcin, Chardonnay, Malbec, Malvasia, Merlot, Montepulciano, Muscat Canelli, Nebbiolo, Niagara, Petit Verdot, Pinot gris, Pinot noir, Riesling, Sangiovese, Vidal Blanc, Traminette, Cynthiana/Norton_(grape), Sauvignon blanc, Seyval blanc, Syrah, Vermentino, Viognier
No. of wineries	38

The Yadkin Valley AVA is an American Viticultural Area that includes land in seven counties of northwestern North Carolina. The AVA encompasses an area of approximately 1,400,000 acres (5,666 km²) in the Yadkin River valley. The Yadkin Valley AVA includes all of Wilkes, Surry, and Yadkin counties, and parts of Davie, Davidson, Forsyth and Stokes counties. Yadkin Valley is home to more than three dozen wineries.

For decades, the area was a key tobacco-growing region. However, as tobacco farming and cigarette manufacturing in the area declined, some entrepreneurs, including tobacco farmers, have turned to winemaking. The native grapes of this region of the southeastern United States include Vitis Cordifolia, Vitis labrusca, Vitis aestivalis, Vitis cinerea and Vitis rotundifolia (Muscadine and Scuppernong). Early attempts to grow the European wine grape, Vitis vinifera, in the southeastern United States, including 18th century efforts by Thomas Jefferson at Monticello, Virginia, had mixed success. But in the past two to three decades, viticultural research has helped these grapes to survive the climate, soil, and pests of the region. Additionally, Surry Community College, located in Dobson, North Carolina, has served as a valuable community resource for this growing industry by offering certificate and degree programs in viticulture and enology. In 2005, Davidson County Community College formed a partnership with Surry Community College for the delivery of the viticulture and enology program/certifications in Davidson and Davie counties.