Visiting Madera wine country for the first time: where to start, what to expect and the mistakes to skip.
Ficklin then Quady, back to back: the port pioneer and the sweet-wine specialist explain the whole region in two stops
Expect America's benchmark port-style and dessert wines, plus Muscats, Portuguese varieties and a growing table-wine bench, poured mostly by people close to the winemaking.
This is California's best-value trail: Ficklin's tasting is complimentary for up to four, Quady's is $10, and bottle prices stay grounded.
The region sits along Highway 99 and Highway 41, the southern gateway road to Yosemite; plan the driving and every stop gets better.
Don't overpack the itinerary: three stops with time to talk beats six drive-bys anywhere, and doubly so here. And check hours before every stop; small family rooms adjust schedules seasonally.
Every winery we track in the region, each with its own page.
See the full Madera guide → · Browse all wineries →