Kanawha River Valley AVA
| Wine region | |
| Type | American Viticultural Area |
|---|---|
| Year established | 1986 |
| Years of wine industry | 199 |
| Country | United States |
| Part of | West Virginia, Ohio River Valley AVA |
| Growing season | 150-185 days |
| Climate region | Continental |
| Precipitation (annual average) | 43.5 in (1,100 mm) |
| Soil conditions | Shale, siltstone and some limestone of Perma and Pennsylvania Age |
| Total area | 640,000 acres (1,000 sq mi) |
| Size of planted vineyards | 14 acres (5.7 ha) |
| No. of wineries | 1 |
Kanawha River Valley is an American Viticultural Area (AVA) located in the watershed of the Kanawha River in West Virginia, between the city of Charleston and adjacent to the Ohio border. It was established on April 7, 1986 by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), Treasury after reviewing the petition submitted by Dr. Wilson Ward, owner of Fisher Ridge Vineyard, a winery located in Liberty, WV, proposing the viticultural area to be known as "Kanawha River Valley." The wine appellation encompasses 640,000 acres (1,000 sq mi) within portions of Cabell, Jackson, Kanawha, Mason and Putnam Counties. A portion of the viticultural area's western border follows the Ohio River and runs adjacent to the West Virginia-Ohio State border in a southwesterly direction. The Kanawha River Valley AVA is a sub-appellation of the multi-state Ohio River Valley AVA. The hardiness zone is mainly 6b. The first commercial winery in the state, Fisher Ridge, began operation in the AVA in 1979.