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Santa Clara Valley Vineyards
The Santa Clara Valley AVA was once acres and acres of orchards and vineyards, though now is now blocks of homes, wooded business parks, and high-tech industries. There are a few pristine places still to be found in the hills to the west. The official AVA includes the southern end of Alameda County around Pleasanton, plus the vineyard areas in the Santa Clara Valley around Gilroy, Hecker Pass and Morgan Hill. Chardonnay is the dominant grape, followed by Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Zinfandel.
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Cabernet Ready for Harvest |
Pedrizzetti Tasting Room |
The Santa Clara AVA also encompasses the Pacheco Pass AVA and the San Ysidro AVA. The Pacheco Pass AVA is along Highway 152, with a couple of wineries pouring fruit and grape wines. The San Ysidro AVA is located in the cooler area southeast of Gilroy and grows Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Cabernet Sauvignon, but has no wineries.
