Lewis Clark AVA

by Maggie Elliot




Photo Credit: Susan R. O'Hara


An AVA, or “American Viticulture Area” is a grape-growing region producing distinct wines because of the unique terrain, climate, soil, and other factors of the land. In May, Idaho’s third AVA was designated, the Lewis Clark Valley AVA. Bordering the Lewiston and Clarkston state lines, the AVA is shared by two states, with twelve percent in Washington and the remaining in Idaho.

Vineyards in the Lewis Clark Valley AVA are nestled between the steep Bitteroot Mountains. The deep, v-shaped valleys create ideal air drainage for wine grapes, inhibiting mold growth, lending frost protection, and the presence of cool summer nights work to develop acid retention. The soil is composed of silt based mollisols, carrying a high water holding capacity, promoting the need for minimal irrigation. The Lewis Clark Valley is set apart from other AVAs in the Northwest, as its landscape was not carved from ancient Missoula floods. Instead, the valley was created by the Snake-Clearwater River, with its soil a result of an accumulation of windblown loess trapped in the canyon boundaries.

An emerging wine industry in Idaho sparks the potential for a multitude of careers. Not only do wineries depend on viticulturists and enologists, they also need professionals in sales and marketing, artists to design labels, tasting room attendants and cellar masters. They need accountants and human resource consultants, as well as mechanics that can repair specialized equipment.

At the same time, the industry will create a demand for logistical needs in the production of wine. Bottles, corks, labels, barrels, bottling lines, tanks, hoses, yeast, and the vast selection of inputs winemakers use to characterize their blends. Once the wine is made, wineries will need dependable transport to ship their wine to customers and distributors in a temperature controlled environment safely.

Every successful industry has creative agriculturists behind it who are committed to delivering the best product to the consumer. Whether it’s developing disease free rootstock in a vineyard nursery or selling a bottle of wine in retail, students engaged in agriculture may be surprised to find this blossoming industry has a spot for everyone.

Of the 302,000 acres within the boundaries of the AVA, only 80 acres are currently in production. The opportunity this region holds for wine production is remarkable and exciting. As graduation inches closer, keep your eye on the wine industry in Idaho. It may hold the key to a rewarding career.


Photo Credit: Wines Northwest




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