Warren Hills AVA

Created: 1988

Size: 100 acres planted (40.5 ha)

Climate: Cool continental with high humidity

Soils: Silt and loam over a limestone base

First planted: 1980

Number of wineries: 5

This AVA surrounds multiple tributaries of the Delaware River, and the Warren Hills form the northeastern ridge of Pennsylvania’s Lehigh Valley AVA. Slopes along the rivers offer southeast-facing vineyard sites with plenty of sunlight exposure and protection from spring frosts. Nearly constant breezes traversing the tributary valleys prolong the growing season, allowing good ripening conditions.

The Warren Hills AVA’s unique soils define this region. Well-draining shallow, rocky topsoils create slight water stress resulting in reduced yields and increased concentration of flavors and aromas; this in combination with the long growing season produces grapes with high levels of phenolic compounds. Wines can demonstrate racy acidity, good tannic structure, and bold flavors and aromas. Cold-hardy V. vinifera like Chardonnay, Riesling, and Pinot Noir are planted alongside native grapes and hybrids like Delaware, Vidal Blanc, and Seyval Blanc.

Central Delaware Valley AVA

Created: 1984

Size: 96,000 acres total (38,850 ha)

Climate: Cool continental, with hot summers and high humidity

Soils: Rocky shale

First planted: 1974

Number of wineries: 3

This AVA is located in New Jersey and in Pennsylvania. It surrounds the Delaware River to the north of Philadelphia. This region is not suited to large vineyards, and therefore its commercial viticulture potential is limited; only a few wineries are making wine in this area. While most of the AVA zone is found in New Jersey in Hunterdon and Mercer Counties, the majority of vineyards are located on the Pennsylvania side in Bucks County.

A mix of hybrids and V. vinifera (Cabernet, Chardonnay, and Pinot Grigio in particular) are grown here.

Outer Coastal Plain AVA and Cape May AVA

Created: 2007 (Outer Coastal Plain), 2018 (Cape May)

Size: 2,250,000 acres total (911,000 ha)

Climate: Moderate maritime

Soils: Well-drained sandy or sandy loam soils, moderate fertility

First planted: Early 1800s

Number of wineries: 32

These AVAs have a rich tradition of winemaking. Native varieties, hybrids, and V. vinifera vines all grow very well in the flat sandy plains and gentle rolling hills along New Jersey’s Atlantic coastline.

Outer Coastal Plain AVA is home to one of the oldest continuously operating wineries in the United States: Renault, established in Egg Harbor City in 1864. During the 1800s, wines from this AVA were internationally lauded, winning medals and awards throughout Europe. Prohibition, however, had a drastic effect here, and winemaking essentially ceased. The New Jersey Farm Winery Act sparked production once again in the 1980s.

Climate here is substantially different than other New Jersey AVAS. The warm Atlantic Gulf Stream brings warming onshore breezes and warm water from Florida, resulting in a long growing season. This provides ideal conditions for ripening V. vinifera varieties. Soils with excellent drainage and low fertility add to the ideal terroir here. The Cape May Peninsula AVA is focusing on vinifera varieties in particular, offering a wide array of wines from varieties such as Albariño, Dolcetto, Tempranillo, Nebbiolo, Merlot, Barbera, Moscato, Malvasia, and Viognier.

The number of wineries in these AVAs is once again growing and vineyards are expanding. Look to this area for significant amounts of excellent wines in the near future.