The Augusta AVA was the first federally approved American Viticultural Area ^[1] gaining the status on June 20th, 1980.^[2] Located entirely within the state of Missouri, the boundaries of this wine region encompasses 15 square miles around the city of Augusta near the intersection of St. Charles County, Warren County and Franklin County.^[1] An American Viticultural Area (AVA) is a delimited grape-growing region distinguishable by geographic features, with boundaries defined by the United States governments Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB). ... Official language(s) English Capital Jefferson City Largest city Kansas City Largest metro area St Louis Metro[1] Area  Ranked 21st  - Total 69,709 sq mi (180,693 km²)  - Width 240 miles (385 km)  - Length 300 miles (480 km)  - % water 1. ... The following is a list of regions where wine grapes are grown and wine is made from them. ... Augusta is a town located in St. ... St. ... Warren County is a county located in the state of Missouri. ... Franklin County is a county located in the U.S. state of Missouri. ...

Geography and soil

View of the Augusta AVA from Montelle Winery located on the hill top region around the city of Augusta.

Located 40 miles west of Saint Louis along the Missouri River, the area is known for its river bottoms and alluvial plains that follow the winding river. The soil in this area is a type of loam known as Hayne Silt-Loam which is heaviest in clay composition in the areas closest to the river but has more silt concentration in the higher elevations where most of the vineyards are now located.^[1] Nickname: Gateway City, Gateway to the West, or Mound City Motto: Official website: http://stlouis. ... The Missouri River is a tributary of the Mississippi River in the United States. ... This picture shows the flood plain following a 1 in 10 year flood on the Isle of Wight. ... An alluvial plain is a relatively flat and gently sloping landform found at the base of a range of hills. ... suck my shlong dick cause soil is my life pedosphere is positioned at the interface of the lithosphere and biosphere with the atmosphere and hydrosphere. ... Loam is soil composed of a relatively even mixture of three mineral particle size groups: sand, silt, and clay. ... The Gay Head cliffs in Marthas Vineyard are made almost entirely of clay. ... Silt is soil or rock derived granular material of a specific grain size. ...

History

The area around the present day city of Augusta was founded in 1836 by Leonard Harold, a follower of Daniel Boone, as a riverboat landing along the Missouri. The town was originally named Mount Pleasant with the riverboat landing known as Augusta Bend. In 1855, the town was incorporated as the city of Augusta. In 1859, Georg and Friedrich Muench founded one of the earliest wineries in the area, Mount Pleasant Winery.^[3] Flooding in the Missouri River valley cause the river to change course in 1872, drying up the area's riverboat landing and leaving a distinct soil type in the area between the town and the river. The area's early vineyards were planted in the 1880s and the area began receiving recognition for the distinctive flavors and profile of the wine being produced there. In the later parts of the 19th and early 20th century, the production volume from the area helped the Missouri wine industry compete with Ohio for market share east of the Rocky Mountains.^[4] The advent of Prohibition had a dramatic affect on the area causing the closure of local wineries and the uprooting of vineyards. A revival period occurred in the 1960s that lead to the founding of many of the areas current wineries.^[5] This 1820 oil painting by Chester Harding is the only portrait of Daniel Boone made from life. ... A riverboat is a specialized watercraft (vessel) designed for operating on inland waterways. ... Mount Pleasant Winery is a winery in Augusta, Missouri, founded in 1859 by the brothers George and Fredrick Munch, who chose this area because it reminded them of their home country Germany. ... Hermannhoff White Lady of Starkenburg wine Stone Hill Norton wine of 2003 St. ... Official language(s) None Capital Columbus Largest city Columbus Largest metro area Cleveland Area  Ranked 34th  - Total 44,825 sq mi (116,096 km²)  - Width 220 miles (355 km)  - Length 220 miles (355 km)  - % water 8. ... The Rocky Mountains, often called the Rockies, are a broad mountain range in western North America. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ...

At the turn of the 21st century, wines from the Augusta AVA were exported to Germany. In 2003, Augusta Winery's 2001 Chardonel won "Best US wine" from the German wine magazine Selection at their yearly competition in Mainz.^[6] The introduction to this article provides insufficient context for those unfamiliar with the subject matter. ... Mainz is a city in Germany and the capital of the German federal state of Rhineland-Palatinate. ...

Grapes

St. Vincent vines near Missouri Route 94.

The Augusta AVA is planted with some Vitis vinifera including Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, and Merlot but the principal wine in the area is the Vitis aestivalis grape Norton which is the official grape of the State of Missouri.^[7]. French-American hybrid grapes like Chambourcin, Chardonel, Couderc Noir, Rayon d'Or, Seyval Blanc, St. Vincent and Vidal Blanc are also popular plantings. Binomial name Vitis vinifera L. For thousands of years, the fruit and plant of Vitis vinifera, the European grapevine, have been harvested for both medicinal and nutritional value; its history is intimately entwined with the history of wine. ... Old vine Cabernet Sauvignon at Chateau Montelena in Napa Valley. ... Oak-aged Chardonnay is particularly popular in the United States. ... Merlot grapes on the vine. ... Binomial name Vitis aestivalis Vitis aestivalis is any of several varieties of grape native to the United States. ... Norton grapes, a grape cultivar of Vitis aestivalis are grown in the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic States and are native to the United States. ... Hybrid grapes refer commonly to those grape varieties which are the product of a crossing between two different vitis species. ... Chambourcin is a French/American hybrid grape variety used for making wine. ... The introduction to this article provides insufficient context for those unfamiliar with the subject matter. ... Seyval Blanc (aka Seyve-villard 5276) is a hybrid wine grape variety used to make white wines. ... Vidal Blanc is a cross of Ugni Blanc and Seibel 4986. ...

External links

• Augusta AVA page - Appellation America
• Augusta Wine Country
• Wineries in Augusta

References