Altus Wine Region

The Altus American Viticultural Area, Federally Recognised In 1984 And Sitting Inside The Larger Arkansas Mountain AVA. Arkansas'S Oldest And Most Established Wine District, Worked Continuously By Swiss And German Families Since The 1870s And 1880s. · Altus, Arkansas

Swiss and German Catholic families settled the ridge above Altus in the 1870s and 1880s, found the sandy soil on top of St Mary's Mountain drained better than anything in the valley, and planted vines. Several of those wineries are still there and still in the same families, which makes this one of the older continuously working wine districts in the United States - older than most of Napa - and it survived Prohibition by making sacramental and medicinal wine. The federal government recognised the Altus AVA in 1984. It is a small district, four wineries or so, and it does not pretend to be Sonoma: the grapes are largely American and hybrid varieties that can take Arkansas humidity, the tasting rooms are family rooms rather than architecture, and the prices are what they were twenty years ago. The ridge also looks out over the Arkansas River valley, which is the other reason to drive up the ridge in the first place.

Altus, Arkansas River Valley, Altus, Arkansas, 72821, United States

The wineries keep their own hours, generally daytime, six or seven days a week, with shorter Sunday hours and some closing on major holidays; several reduce their days in winter. Tasting rooms are walk-in and do not normally need appointments. The Altus Grape Festival is held in the town in late July. St Mary's Church on the ridge keeps church hours and welcomes visitors outside services. Confirm hours before driving, because this is a small district and the wineries are family-run.

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