The valley is bounded by the Blue Ridge Mountains to the east and the Appalachian and Allegheny Plateaus to the west.

[4] Limestone soil, which is common to the Valley, has been long associated with great wine growing regions in Europe.

[5] The Shenandoah Valley AVA's climate allows grapes to attain higher acidity, generally regarded as good in wine.

[6] The cooler, relatively dry climate, soil composition and position between two mountain chains makes the Shenandoah Valley more ideal for viticulture than any of the state's other regions.

[10] The growing season in the valley is distinctly warmer and drier than in neighboring Virginia regions, which don't have the natural rain barrier from the nearby mountains[10] and where, east of the Blue Ridge, vineyard soils are primarily clay and loam.