The petitioner states that to the west there are intermittent plateaus of deep loam soil, comprising 4,000 acres, suitable for viticultural purposes. Two acres of grapes were planted in 1976 on top of Sugarloaf Mountain, which is in the proposed Rocky Knob area. This first commercial planting of wine grapes was experimental and the results were positive. According to the petitioner the average rainfall is 43.10 inches per year and the average temperature for the growing season, which lasts 160 days, is May 61.2, June 67.9, July 71.1, August 70.0, September 63.9, and October 54.3 degrees Fahrenheit. The petitioner claims that warm days with cool nights are typical during the growing season in the proposed area and provide excellent growing conditions.
High winds afford good soil drying conditions which minimize grape diseases.
The boundaries as proposed by the petitioner are described in proposed 9.43. ATF requests comments concerning this proposed viticultural area from all interested persons. This document proposes possible boundaries for the Rocky Knob viticultural area. However, comments concerning other possible boundaries for this proposed viticultural area will be considered. Comments received before the closing date will be carefully considered.