| Wine region | |
 | |
| Type | American Viticultural Area |
|---|---|
| Year established | 2014[1] |
| Years of wine industry | 27[2] |
| Country | United States |
| Part of | Georgia, North Carolina |
| Growing season | 161-177 days[3] |
| Climate region | Region I-IV[4] |
| Heat units | 1503-3100 GDD[4] |
| Precipitation (annual average) | 61.4 in (1,559.6 mm)[4] |
| Soil conditions | Derived from metasedimentary rocks, i.e., phyllites, slates, schists, metasandstones, and marble[4] |
| Total area | 690 square miles (441,600 acres)[1] |
| Size of planted vineyards | 54 acres (22 ha)[1] |
| No. of vineyards | 26[1] |
| Grapes produced | Albariño, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Catawba, Chambourcin, Chardonnay, Concord, Grüner Veltliner, Merlot, Muscadine, Niagara, Norton, Norton(Cythiana), Sangiovese, Seyval Blanc, Vidal Blanc, and Traminette[2][4][5] |
| No. of wineries | 9[4] |
Upper Hiwassee Highlands is an American Viticultural Area (AVA) that straddles two counties in the southwestern corner of North Carolina, United States, adjacent to the Tennessee border across state lines into three counties of northern Georgia. It is located near the southern end of the Blue Ridge Mountains and expands over portions of Cherokee and Clay Counties, North Carolina into Fannin, Towns and Union Counties, Georgia. The appellation was recognized, as the Georgia's initial and North Carolina's 4th AVA, on August 18, 2014 by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB), Treasury after reviewing the petition submitted by Eric Carlson, owner of Calaboose Cellars, on behalf of himself and members of the Vineyard and Winery Operators of the Upper Hiwassee River Basin group, proposing the establishment of the AVA to be designated "Upper Hiwassee Highlands."[3]
The viticultural area, when established, encompassed approximately 690 sq mi (441,600 acres) with 54 acres (22 ha) being cultivated on 26 commercial vineyards. According to the petition, the vineyard owners estimated to expand plantings of 75.5 acres (30.6 ha) in the next five years. Two new vineyards were also in the planning stages and expected to add an additional of 16 acres (6 ha) to the total acreage by the end of 2013. Five wineries were operating within the proposed AVA at the time the petition was submitted.[1] The region is mainly in hardiness zone 7b with elevated areas in zone 7a[6]
- ^ a b c d e "Establishment of the Upper Hiwassee Highlands Viticultural Area" (27 CFR Part 9 [Docket No. TTB–2013–0008; T.D. TTB–120; Ref: Notice No. 139] RIN 1513–AC02 Final Rule). Federal Register. 79 (138). Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB), Treasury: 41891–41894. July 18, 2014.
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ^ a b Cite error: The named reference
Wine_Enthusiastwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ a b Carlson, Eric (September 1, 2012). "Petition for Establishment of an American Viticultural Area to be Designated Upper Hiwassee Highlands". TTB.gov. Andrews,North Carolina: Calaboose Cellars. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ^ a b c d e f "Proposed Establishment of the Upper Hiwassee Highlands Viticultural Area" (27 CFR Part 9 [Docket No. TTB–2013–0008: Notice No. 139] RIN 1513–AC02 Proposed Rule). Federal Register. 78 (134). Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB), Treasury: 41891–41898. July 12, 2013. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ^ "Upper Hiwassee Highlands AVA: Appellation Profile". Appellation America. 2007. Archived from the original on April 9, 2015. Retrieved April 3, 2015.
- ^ "North Carolina Hardiness Zones". Plantmaps.com. 2023.
