Napa Valley

Napa Valley has a large amount of AVAs or American Viticultural Areas. I will discuss each one and show a couple of wines from each. Napa has some of the best Cabernet Sauvignon wines in the world. And, they easily rival Bordeaux wines in France. If you want to visit wine country, make Napa your first stop! Then, go to France to compare.

What is nice about Napa is the ease of visiting wineries. There is one road that goes up the west side which connects to a road that goes down the east side. I recommend visiting Beringer for great wines, Sterling for great wines and a cable car ride up to the winery, and G.H. Mumm owned Mumm Cuvee Napa for some great sparkling wines. The better wineries charge you for a glass of wine. Pace yourself because the more drunk you get, the less you smell and taste. You do not have to finish every glass! Hire a limo for this journey. Also, call in advance. Some wineries are by appointment only. And, you may need somebody in the wine business to vouch for you.

Atlas Peak AVA

Its high elevation keeps it about 10-15 degrees cooler than the valley floor which results in expressive wines with higher acidity than other Napa Valley AVAs. Atlas Peak growers supply premium fruit to dozens of wineries in Napa and Sonoma. And, local winemakers produce some of the world’s finest wines made from cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc, merlot, sangiovese, syrah, and chardonnay.

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Calistoga Napa Valley AVA

This AVA has one of the warmest climates of the region. Also, it is the most geologically uniform in all of Napa Valley. While summer temperatures top 100 degrees, they also drop into the 40s at night due to cool breezes from the Pacific. This diurnal shift is a grape grower’s dream. It results in fully ripe grapes balanced by fresh acidity. Principal varieties here include cabernet sauvignon, zinfandel, syrah, and petite sirah. This AVA is where Chateau Montelena winery makes history in the movie called Bottle Shock. It stars Bill Pullman. With a panel of all France h judges in 1976, his 1973 chardonnay wins first place!

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Chiles Valley District AVA

Established in 1999 and located in the Eastern hills of Napa Valley, Chiles Valley is among the smallest AVAs. At about 1,000 ft. elevation, the fog-heavy breezes which cool the valley floor do not reach this area. So, it can get quite warm. However, nights in the Chiles Valley are cool at this altitude. It creates a diurnal shift that greatly benefits the grapes which include classic Bordeaux varieties. And, the AVA is home to some very old zinfandel vines as well.

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Coombsville AVA

Napa Valley’s newest AVA is in the Southeastern corner of the Napa Valley. It is only ten minutes outside of downtown Napa. The weather is cooled significantly by the AVA’s proximity to the San Pablo Bay which yields elegant examples of cabernet sauvignon, syrah, pinot noir and chardonnay.

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Diamond Mountain AVA

While you may not find those sparkling gemstones here, you will find wines made primarily from cabernet sauvignon that are just as stunning. Located in the warmer Northwestern part of the Napa Valley, this region is actually named for the shards of reflective volcanic glass found in the soils. The region is associated with wines that are structured and plush with mountain fruit intensity and great aging potential.

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Howell Mountain AVA

Located on the Northeastern side of the Vaca Mountains just above St. Helena, this is one of Napa Valley’s most prestigious AVAs. Many celebrate the concentration and signature wildness of Howell Mountain wines. They are predominantly cabernet sauvignon, merlot, zinfandel, and petite sirah. This distinctive character is a result of the region’s warm, dry climate and rocky, porous soils. It gives thanks to its positioning well above the valley floor. These wines are some of the most expensive Napa Valley has to offer.

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Los Carneros AVA

The Los Carneros AVA, established in 1983, straddles land in Napa and Sonoma Valleys. This makes it the first California wine region to be defined by its unique climate as opposed to political boundaries. This is a cool climate appellation heavily influenced by prevailing winds from the San Pablo Bay. Daytime temperatures rarely exceed 80 degrees. Stunning examples of chardonnay, pinot noir, merlot and sparkling wines are produced in Carneros thanks to this distinctly cool climate. It is known for its sparkling wines headed by Taitinger owned Domaine Carneros.

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Mount Veeder AVA

Formed from an ancient seabed, the Mount Veeder appellation boasts one of the longest growing seasons and the lowest yields in the Napa Valley. Also, it is the only hillside appellation that adjoins the cool, bayside Carneros. These factors, combined with the steep conditions severely limit mechanization. This allows the region to develop a reputation for intensely concentrated and age-worthy wines made from cabernet sauvignon, merlot, zinfandel, and chardonnay.

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Oak Knoll District AVA

This district achieved its AVA status in 2004 as a result of local winemakers’ efforts to have the region’s cool climate and long growing season recognized. The emerging granular soil forces vines to dig deep in search of water. It results in small, highly concentrated grapes and elegant, perfumed wines. They are made from the most diverse lineup of grape varieties in Napa Valley.

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Oakville AVA Napa Valley

Oakville was actually once just a steam train stop in the Napa Valley. Today, wines from Oakville are among some of the most recognized and sought after in the world. Names like Opus One, Robert Mondavi, Screaming Eagle, Harlan, and Far Niente create the concept of Cult Cabernet. And, smaller, family-run producers in the area continue to maintain its stellar reputation for world-class wines. Far Niente Chardonnay is my favorite in California. And, it is known for its perfect amount of oakiness giving it a pleasant vanilla aftertaste.

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Rutherford AVA

Rutherford is located just North of Oakville as the geographic and historic center of the Napa Valley. It boasts a warm climate moderated by cooling Bay Area fog. Some of the region’s wineries date back to the late 1800s. Thomas Rutherford settled and began planting grapes instead. Today, visitors find rich wines made from cabernet sauvignon, merlot, cabernet franc, zinfandel and sauvignon blanc.

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Spring Mountain District AVA

Located above St. Helena, the region gets its name for the natural springs that mark the area. Spring Mountain District is rich with history. It is said that the region’s first vineyard, planted in 1874, withstood prohibition because it was so remote. Today, the challenging mountain terroir yields complex wines made from Bordeaux varieties. Also, it has unique grapes like riesling, sémillon, gewürztraminer, and Portuguese grapes.

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St. Helena AVA

Napa Valley’s oldest wine estate, Charles Krug, was established here in 1861. St. Helena grows more grapes than any other AVA in the Napa Valley. And, St. Helena has a warmer climate than the other AVAs. The region produces ripe yet structured cabernet sauvignon, merlot, syrah, zinfandel, and sauvignon blanc.

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Stags Leap AVA Napa Valley

The potential of this region was cemented when Stag’s Leap Wine Cellar’s 1973 Cabernet Sauvignon won the infamous Judgment of Paris. Also, Chateau Montelena’s chardonnay prevailed. The appellation is planted with mostly Bordeaux varieties. It is the first AVA to be approved based on the distinctiveness of its soils.

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Wild Horse Valley AVA Napa Valley

While one of the earliest AVAs to be established, the Wild Horse Valley appellation remains one of Napa Valley’s most obscure. In fact, this region serves as more of an area for growers who supply winemakers with fruit of unique terroir. Usually, they are pinot noir, chardonnay, and syrah.

Yountville AVA Napa Valley

Not to be confused with the downtown area of Yountville, the Yountville AVA has a rich history in Napa. Geourge Yount, for whom the town is named, planted the first vineyards in the region in 1836 in the area that would ultimately become Dominus Estate. Yountville exhibits a diverse range of microclimates and soil types that allow for many different grape varieties to be grown.

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