An American Viticultural Area (AVA) is a designated winegrowing region in the United States, defined by unique geographic, climatic, and soil conditions that influence the character of the wine produced there. Established and regulated by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB), an AVA serves as a legally recognized indication of origin—similar to France’s AOC or Italy’s DOC systems. There are over 270 AVAs in the U.S., ranging from broad regions like California’s North Coast to very specific areas like Oakville within Napa Valley. To use an AVA name on a wine label, at least 85% of the grapes must come from that area, and the wine must be fully finished within the state of that AVA. AVAs help consumers understand where a wine is from and, over time, can offer clues about a wine’s typical style, quality, and grape variety. For example, Willamette Valley AVA in Oregon is known for Pinot Noir, while Sonoma Coast AVA often produces crisp Chardonnay. Though AVAs don’t guarantee quality, they do help highlight the diversity of American wine regions and provide a framework for regional identity and terroir-driven winemaking.