Catoctin AVA

Catoctin is an American Viticultural Area (AVA) located in Frederick and Washington counties of western Maryland. "Catoctin" is Algonquian word translated, cf. Ojibwa gidagasin: "speckled rock", "flecked rock" or "spotted rock," a geological stone which abounds in the Catoctin Mountain. The area was established as the state's 2^nd and the nation's 45^th AVA on October 12, 1983 by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), Treasury after reviewing the petition submitted by W. Bret Byrd, proprietor of the bonded Byrd Vineyards & Winery, on behalf of himself and local vintners proposing a viticultural area known as "Catoctin."

The 169,600 acres (265 sq mi) viticultural area lies a few miles west of the town of Frederick in western Maryland consisting of a large intermountain valley and upland areas immediately surrounding the valley. The eastern and western boundaries are distinguished by the Catoctin Mountain and South Mountain, respectively. The northern and southern boundaries are defined by the Maryland-Pennsylvania State line and the Potomac River. At the outset, there were approximately 84.5 acres (34 ha) under vine for commercial purposes. The acreage devoted to grape-growing is widely dispersed. In 1980, approximately 31.5% of the total commercial grape acreage in Maryland was planted in its Blue Ridge region of Catoctin. In addition, scattered throughout, are many small vineyards, generally under an acre, which are used by the owners for private purposes. There was one bonded winery, operated by the petitioner, with a 30 acres (12 ha) vineyard and six (6) commercial vineyard operations. Currently, about seven commercial wineries operate in the AVA where the hardiness zones are 7a and 6b.