THE WINE TRAIL
AMERICAN
VITICULTURAL AREA (AVA)
T
he U.S. Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau named the Verde Valley an American Viticultural Area (AVA) in 2021. This prized designation identifies the unique geography, topography, soils and climate of the Verde Valley as a federally recognized grape-growing region.
Vineyards in the Verde Valley AVA grow more than 40 wine grape varieties, including the white grape varieties malvasia bianca, viognier, chardonnay, vermentino, seyval blanc and picpoul blanc. Red grape varieties include syrah, petite sirah, cabernet sauvignon, sangiovese, tannat and barbera.
Designating the Verde Valley AVA gives vintners the opportunity to describe the origin of the grapes used to make their wines to consumers alongside Arizona’s first two AVAs, Sonoita and Willcox.
Yavapai College is located within the AVA and offers classes, certificates and an associate degree in viticulture (the study of grapes) and enology (the study of wine and winemaking). The college operates a commercial, licensed and bonded teaching winery, a teaching vineyard and a tasting room collectively known as the Southwest Wine Center in Clarkdale.
In the geographic center of Arizona, the Verde Valley AVA covers 219 square miles in northeastern Yavapai County centered on the junction of Oak Creek and the Verde River. Approximately 79 square miles (36%) of the AVA is privately owned land. The Verde Valley AVA includes 19 commercial vineyards farming more than 136 acres of wine grapes. Twenty-four more acres are planned within the next three years. The region boasts 25 tasting rooms.
Enrollment in these programs has risen steadily since its inception in 2009. Many of the school’s alumni are now working in the Verde Valley wine industry. For more information visit www.verdevalleyava.org.
