– American Viticultural Areas (AVA) is the US equivalent to the French system of Appellation Contrôlée (although very different). Chehalem Mountains, close to Portland in Oregon, has been approved as the fifteenth AVA in the state. Chehalem covers 1600 acres (approx 800 hectares) and has 31 wineries. They grow mainly Pinot Noir and also some Pinot Blanc and Riesling. Yahoo Finance