Kanawha River Valley AVA
| Wine region | |
| Type | American Viticultural Area |
|---|---|
| Year established | 1986 |
| Years of wine industry | 200 |
| Country | United States |
| Part of | West Virginia, Ohio River Valley AVA |
| Growing season | 150–185 days |
| Climate region | Continental |
| Precipitation (annual average) | 43.5 in (1,100 mm) |
| Soil conditions | Shale, siltstone and some limestone of Permian and Pennsylvanian Age |
| Total area | 640,000 acres (1,000 sq mi) |
| Size of planted vineyards | 14 acres (5.7 ha) |
| No. of wineries | 1 |
Kanawha River Valley is an American Viticultural Area (AVA) located within the Kanawha River Valley watershed in West Virginia, between the city of Charleston and adjacent to the Ohio border. It was established on April 8, 1986, as the nation's 85th and the state's second appellation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), Treasury after reviewing the petition submitted by Dr. Wilson Ward, owner of Fisher Ridge Vineyard, a winery located in Liberty, WV, proposing the viticultural area to be known as "Kanawha River Valley." The only wine appellation located entirely within the state's borders encompasses 640,000 acres (1,000 sq mi) throughout portions of Cabell, Jackson, Kanawha, Mason and Putnam Counties. A portion of the viticultural area's western boundary follows the Ohio River and runs adjacent to the West Virginia-Ohio state border in a southwesterly direction. Kanawha River Valley viticultural area is a sub-appellation in the multi-state Ohio River Valley AVA. The USDA hardiness zone is 6b to 7a. The first commercial winery in the state and the AVA, Fisher Ridge, began operation in 1979.