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Last Updated: Mar 5, 2026
AVA
AVA
An American Viticultural Area (AVA) is a designated and legally defined wine grape growing region in the United States which is identifiable by its geography, soil and climate. There are 257 AVAs in 34 US states as recognized by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB). To label a wine with an AVA, at least 85% of its grapes must have been grown in the specific area.
See Also
Cru
"Cru" is a French term meaning "growth", referring to a superior, high quality growing site, vineyard, or village.
AOC
AOC (Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée) is a prestigious French wine regulatory system that guarantees that it comes from a specific, defined region and that its production adheres to strict, traditional production standards.
DOC
DOC means Denominazione di Origine Controllata, an Italian wine quality classification system that guarantees that the wine was produced in a specific region using authorized grape varieties and methods.
Climate
Climate refers to the long term weather patterns, including temperature, sunlight, wind and rainfall of a particular region which directly influence grape growth and decides the wine's style.
Grapes
Wine grapes are the fruit of the grape vine, small thick skinned and sugary berries, majorly from the Vitis vinifera species. Popular grape varieties include Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.
Irrigation
Irrigation is the artificial application of water to vineyards to provide the necessary 25-35 inches of annual water in dry climates.
Balance
Balance is the proportional relationship between acidity, alcohol, sugar, tannin and fruit concentration in a wine, where no single element dominates.
Extract
The extract of a wine is everything in it apart from water, sugar, alcohol and acids. It refers to the non volatile solids such as tannins, anthocyannins and glycerol which are drawn from the grape during maceration.
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