Our Ultimate Guide to Central Valley Wines

You may know California’s Central Valley as the the farmland you see while crusing down I-5 or Highway 99, when driving from the Bay Area or Los Angeles. But have you ever really thought about what grows there? Spoiler alert – pretty much everything grows in the Central Valley (AKA the San Joaquin Valley), including more than half of the Golden State’s winegrapes and there are many excellent wines to be discovered here. 

California’s Agricultural Heartland 

California grows more than 50% of the nation’s produce including two-thirds of its fruits and nuts. Much of that agricultural production happens in the Central Valley. The San Joaquin Valley is one of the best places for farming in California, arguably the world. 

The central part of the state is home to more than 4,000 farms, over 90% of which are family owned. There, you’ll find cereal grains, cotton, citrus, figs, hay, nuts, prunes, table grapes, various vegetables and yes, winegrapes (over 151,000 acres of them!). The San Joaquin Valley is by far the largest wine region in the state. Surprised? About 70% of all California wine is made with grapes grown in the Central Valley. 

The Central Valley runs about 400 miles from north to south. Due to its vast size, the soils in and around the Central Valley are quite diverse. It spent the first part of its existence under an ocean and the resulting marine deposits, along with erosion from surrounding mountain ranges (Sierras to the east and the Coast Ranges to the west), have created extremely fertile soils.  

Much of the valley is protected from ocean influences, meaning that summers are warm and dry and there isn’t much of a shift in temperature. The one exception is Lodi which is close enough to the Delta to benefit from the cooling Delta breezes. Signature varieties include Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, Chardonnay, French Colombard, Merlot, Chenin Blanc, Moscato and Pinot Gris. In Madera County, there are some excellent producers of interesting dessert and fortified wines. In general, grapes grown in the Central Valley benefit from a long growing season, juicy fruit and typically high yields. 

Where to Taste Wine in the San Joaquin Valley 

Today there are five American Viticultural Areas (AVAs) within the San Joaquin Valley. The most well-known tasting region is Lodi.  Further south is Madera Wine Trail where you’ll find unique dessert wines and fortified wines like port and vermouth. 

Madera Wine Trail 

For a fun and relaxed wine-tasting experience, visit the Madera Wine Trail. Even though Madera is one of the oldest winemaking regions in the Golden State, it’s still considered to be “up and coming.” People started making wine there in the 1920s, but there are also several new boutique wineries hitting the scene. There are a surprising number of award-winning wineries that are part of the Madera AVA. Check out the Madera Wine Trail Map for reference. 

Heading to Yosemite? Be sure to visit some Mariposa Wineries on your way up the mountain! 

See our list of wineries.

Where to eat when you’re visiting the Madera Wine Trail 

Thanks to the many regional farms, chefs in the Central Valley have access to the freshest food around. Fresno and Madera have several noteworthy restaurants featuring farm-to-table cuisine and local wines. Whether you’re craving homestyle comfort food or looking for an upscale restaurant to celebrate a special occasion, you’ll find what you need in the Central Valley. 

Here’s an article with ideas on where to eat and what to do in the Central Valley.