| Madera AVA | |
| Type: | American Viticultural Area |
| Year: | 1984, amended in 1985 and 1987[1] |
| Country: | United States |
| Part Of: | California |
| Total Size: | 230000acres[2] |
| Planted: | 38000acres[3] |
| Grapes: | Barbera, Black Muscat, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenere, Chardonnay, Colombard, Grenache, Malbec, Malvasia, Merlot, Muscat Canelli, Muscat of Alexandria, Orange Muscat, Petit Verdot, Petite Sirah, Riesling, Souzao, Syrah, Tinta Cao, Tinta Madeira, Touriga Nacional, Valdiguie, Viognier, Zinfandel |
The Madera AVA is an American Viticultural Area located in Fresno County and Madera County, in central California.
With a total area of 230000acres, 38000acres of which are planted to wine grapes, this region in the heart of the San Joaquin Valley region of the Central Valley produces 10% of all wine grapes grown in the state of California. Modern grape growing practices have shown that this region can produce very high quality wines. The region has seen tremendous growth and success due to the shift from high-volume production to high-quality production.
In years past, many of the grapes grown in Madera were used for the production of low-priced wines. Today, the grapes are shipped to producers of wines throughout the state, including Napa and Sonoma. The wineries located in the region produce wines from the large variety of grapes grown in the Madera AVA designation.[3]