Ohio River Valley AVA
| Wine region | |
| Type | American Viticultural Area |
|---|---|
| Year established | 1983 2013 Amend |
| Years of wine industry | 175 |
| Country | United States |
| Part of | Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, West Virginia |
| Sub-regions | Kanawha River Valley AVA |
| Growing season | 175 days |
| Climate region | Continental/humid subtropical |
| Precipitation (annual average) | 35 to 40 in (890–1,020 mm) |
| Total area | 17,000,000 acres (26,000 sq mi) |
| Size of planted vineyards | 570 acres (230 ha) |
| No. of vineyards | 463 |
| Grapes produced | Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Catawba, Cayuga, Chambourcin, Chardonnay, Concord, De Chaunac, Marechal Foch, Melon, Merlot, Niagara, Pinot blanc, Pinot gris, Pinot noir, Reliance, Riesling, Rougeon, Roussanne, Sauvignon blanc, Sémillon, Seyval blanc, Steuben, Syrah, Traminette, Vidal blanc, Viognier |
| No. of wineries | 18 |
Ohio River Valley is an American Viticultural Area (AVA) centered on the Ohio River, the vast Ohio River Valley and its adjacent terrain. It was established on September 6, 1983 by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), Treasury after reviewing the petition submitted by Mr. John A. Garrett, proprietor of Villa Milan Vineyards located in Milan, Indiana, proposing the multi-state viticultural area known as "Ohio River Valley." It is the United States' second largest wine appellation of origin, behind Upper Mississippi Valley, encompassing 17,000,000 acres (26,000 sq mi) through portions of Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio and West Virginia. The area mostly cultivates hybrid grapes like Baco noir, Marechal Foch, Seyval blanc and Vidal with Vitis vinifera varieties such as Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Petit Manseng and Riesling being the most common. In 2013, the viticultural area was reduced by approximately 1,530 sq mi (980,000 acres) when the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) established Indiana Uplands AVA adjacent to the Ohio River Valley's border in Indiana.