Middleburg as the newest American Viticulture Area by the U.S. Treasury Department.

An AVA is a grape-growing region that is defined by its geographic features which affect the type and style of the wine it produces. Wineries in the area can identify themselves as being in the AVA if their wines are made from a minimum of 85 percent of grapes grown in the area. Wines can be designated as “Estate Bottled” if the grapes are grown on the winery’s estate. There are currently 198 AVAs in the U.S. and now there are seven in Virginia.

The Middleburg AVA is bounded by the Potomac River to the north and mountains to the east, south and west. The proposed viticultural area covers approximately 190-square miles or 121,600 acres and contains 229 acres of commercial vineyards and 14 wineries.

Other Virginia AVA’s are Eastern Shore AVA, Monticello AVA, North Fork of Roanoke AVA, George Washington Birthplace AVA, Rocky Knob AVA, and Shenandoah Valley AVA.