New York State wine region is one of the upcoming American Viticultural Areas AVA located in the north-eastern United States, between the Atlantic coast and the United States border with Canada. It is mostly famous for its early ripening grape varieties like Riesling and the hybrid Vidal grape which produce light and crisp wines as well as elegant Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. The first vine plantings dating back to the early 17th century but the modern wine industry took off in the late 1950s. New York State's climate is relatively cool, but the heat-retaining lakes have a mitigating effect with most of the vineyards located near the coast, next to rivers, or huddled around the state's various lakes. There are 11 AVAs with the most prominent including Cayuga Lake, Champlain Valley of New York, Finger Lakes, Hudson River Region, Long Island and Niagara Escarpment.