The Santa Clara Valley is a rather large AVA that extends south from the San Francisco Bay along the edge of the Santa Cruz Mountains. With the growth of Silicon Valley, however, there are more housing developments than vineyards. While the AVA’s winemaking importance is more historical than contemporary, there are still a few quality vineyards and wineries that have resisted suburban encroachment.

Santa Clara has a long history of grape growing and winemaking that dates to the days of the Spanish Missions. For many years, Santa Clara had everything going for it, including a favorable climate, good soil, and proximity to the population centers of the Bay Area.

Before Santa Clara was settled, much of its terrain was a flood plain. There are a number of alluvial fans as a result of this water movement. The deep, gravelly and well-drained soils of Santa Clara Valley are excellent for high-quality grape growing. Most of the vineyards are clustered in the southern part of the region.

The remaining Santa Clara Valley wineries are a testament to the perseverance of local vineyard owners and winemakers. Most of the area has long since lost its agricultural heritage, and undergone commercial and residential development, but several Santa Clara wineries are dedicated to keeping the local wine legacy alive. (Wine/Appellations)