The San Francisco Bay AVA is one of California’s largest appellations and is a part of the larger Central Coast wine growing region. It includes more than 1.4 million acres of land, from Pacheco Pass, located at the southern most end of the region, to Contra Costa in the northeast, with the Alameda, Santa Clara, San Francisco, San Mateo and Santa Cruz counties in between.
Coastal fog and wind from the Pacific Ocean and San Francisco Bay influence much of the region and has a profound effect on the overall growing conditions here. Warm days and cool nights are also a feature of the area's macroclimate, resulting in a longer than normal growing season, thus intensifying flavors in the grapes. Because this is such an expansive region with very diverse terroirs and viticultural areas with distinct microclimates, a wide range of grape varieties flourish. Chardonnay is a widely planted variety along with substantial plantings of Merlot, Zinfandel and Cabernet Sauvignon. A wide array of other wines and styles are also produced within the boundaries of the San Francisco Bay area.
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