AVA area in the northwest of the US state of Oregon named after the valley of the same name. In the 1840s, many Europeans who had migrated via the Oregon Trail settled here. Almost 70% of Oregon's population lives here. The Willamette Valley is bounded by the Oregon Coast Range to the west, the Cascade Mountains (part of the Rocky Mountains) to the east and the Calapooya Mountains to the south. The Cascade Mountains, which are around 4,000 metres high, protect the area from the hot continental influences. The climate is mild all year round, with cold, wet winters and warm, dry summers. The valley is considered one of the most fertile agricultural landscapes in the world. Berries and vegetables are the main crops. In the 20th century it became a major wine-growing area.
The AVA area lies around the Willamette River; northwards it extends from the mountains near Eugene to the Columbia River. The main focus is west of the river, on the tributaries of the Willamette. The densest concentration of wineries is found in Yamhill County. Within the northern part of the Willamette Valley AVA, other sub-AVA areas have been defined since recognition in 1984. These are Chehalem Mountains, Dundee Hills, Eola-Amity Hills, Laurelwood District, McMinnville, Ribbon Ridge, Tualatin Hills and Yamhill-Carlton District. The vineyards cover over 4,000 hectares of vines. The area is particularly suited to the European varieties Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris, as well as Chardonnay, Riesling and Cabernet Sauvignon. This has been recognised by the pioneering Amity, Erath and Eyrie Vineyards.
Map: By Adaptation Oregon, by Tim Davenport, CC BY-SA 3.0, Link
Vineyards: By Rvannatta at the English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, Link
