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Located inland from Santa Cruz, in the heart of the Central Valley is the hot and sunny Madera AVA. This large wine region encompasses most of Madera County and northern parts of Fresno County. The San Joaquin River marks Madera's south-western boundary, while the Sierra Nevada Mountains lie to the east. Most of the grapes here are planted in alluvial loam soils on flat terrain, where they achieve extreme ripeness but lack the quality-producing acidity of cooler regions. The resulting high yields produce unpretentious drinkable wines. (Copyright, Wine-Searcher.)
Madera produces 10% of California's wine grapes from an estimated 38,000 acres (15,000ha) of vineyards. The AVA is one of the oldest wine-growing areas in the state, with immigrants from Europe planting the first vines in the late 19th century. The region is mostly known for producing bulk wines from Chenin Blanc, French Colombard, Chardonnay, Grenache, Syrah, Zinfandel and Merlot. However, Madera also produces quality ports and dessert wines, thanks to the warmth of its climate.
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