How to Plan the Perfect Napa Getaway

Though Napa Valley looms large in the minds of wine lovers everywhere, it’s actually geographically quite small. Only 30 miles long and five miles wide (at its widest), it’s home to five distinct towns; American Canyon, Napa, Yountville, St. Helena and Calistoga. There are 16 “nested” appellations within the greater Napa Valley AVA (American Viticultural Area). The Napa Valley AVA was America’s first and today there are more than 400 wineries and 700 grape growers.

A Brief History of Napa Valley 

People have been growing wine in Napa Valley for over 180 years. Though Catholic missionaries first brought winegrapes to California in the 1770s, the first vines were planted in Napa by Yountville’s namesake, George Calvert Yount in 1839. The Gold Rush beginning in 1848 brought an increased demand for wine, so more wineries were established in the region, particularly in Sonoma.

In 1861 Charles Krug established the first commercial winery, and by 1869, with tracks being laid for the Pacific Railroad, the wine industry in the Bay Area exploded. By 1889 there were more than 140 wineries in Napa Valley. Some of the first wineries in the region are still around today including Beaulieu Vineyard, Beringer Vineyards, Chateau Montelena Winery, Far Niente Winery, Inglenook and Schramsberg Vineyards.

But a major event put the brakes on the rapidly expanding wine industry  — Prohibition. In 1920, the Volstead Act, which prohibited the manufacture and sale of all alcoholic beverages, was passed. Prohibition ended in 1933 and wine production in Napa Valley exploded. In 1944 the Napa Valley Vintners trade association was established to promote the wines of the region. And winemakers started to really focus on increasing the quality of wines grown there, particularly Cabernet Sauvignon.

The 1976 Judgment of Paris put the spotlight on several producers in the region. This was a tasting dreamt up by British wine merchant Steven Spurrier who had traveled to California and was impressed by the wines he sampled in Napa. During the tasting, nine French judges blind tasted and ranked wines from California and France. California dominated the white category with a 1973 Chardonnay from Chateau Montelena as the winner, while three other Napa wines finished in the top five. In the red category, a 1973 Cabernet Sauvignon from Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars came out on top. The French judges were appalled, to say the least, but it put California on the map as a serious destination for wine lovers.

What is Unique About Napa Valley?  Location, Location, Location.

You know what they say — location is everything! Napa Valley is situated about 60 miles north of San Francisco. To the south of the valley is San Pablo Bay, to the west the Mayacamas Mountains, to the East are the Vaca Mountains and to the north is Lake County. Because of its ideal location, varied topography and soil types and diverse collection of microclimates, the Napa Valley is the perfect place to grow many different varieties of winegrapes. 

Though Napa Valley has 16 unique sub-appellations, it can be divided into three major categories: the valley floor, the mountain regions both to the west and east and to the south, the bay. In the valley, you’ll find Calistoga, St. Helena, Rutherford, Oakville, Yountville, Stags Leap, Oak Knoll District and Coombsville. With annual rainfall typically around 35-55 inches, and deep alluvial, fluvial (riverside) and volcanic soils, these AVAs are especially known for their lush and refined Cabernet Sauvignon.

The mountain regions of Napa Valley include Howell Mountain, Chiles Valley District, Atlas Peak and Wild Horse Valley on the east, in the Vaca Mountains. On the western side of the valley, Diamond Mountain District, Spring Mountain District and Mount Veder AVAs are located in the Mayacamas Mountains. The soil in both mountain ranges is shallower with rocky colluvial soils and a smaller amount of volcanic soils as well. Annual rainfall measures around 35-55 inches and the elevation ranges from 400-2,600 feet. These more challenging growing conditions create the right climate for dusty, gripping and bold red wines including Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Zinfandel. The one exception is Wild Horse Valley in the south. Thanks to its coastal influence, this AVA is the coolest in Napa Valley. It’s also the smallest with only 100 acres under vine, the majority being Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.

Closest to San Pablo Bay sits Los Carneros. It gets the least amount of rainfall in Napa Valley and has alluvial and some dark loam soils. The pronounced marine influence and cooling breezes make this an ideal location to grow Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and other grapes for sparkling wines.