Since becoming an approved appellation on June 16, 1983, Merritt Island has become part of the much larger, more significant Clarksburg AVA. The Merritt Island AVA is truly an island, surrounded by the Elk and Sutter Sloughs, as well as the Sacramento River to the east. Situated in Yolo County, the 5,000-acre island sits at the northernmost point of the California Delta. The viticultural area receives all of the cool marine breezes that funnel into the Delta from San Francisco Bay. The island's soils are a rich loam, which makes the area somewhat fertile and a high-volume grape producer. Home to only a handful of wineries including Bogle Vineyards, most of the grapes produced in this region go into other regional California blends.