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Wines
A-Z:
N is for Napa
Without
a doubt, the most famous wine region in California
is the Napa Valley. In fact, over the past two
decades, it has become one of the most famous
vino hotbeds in the entire world.
So
while we could have selected "negociant"
or "New Zealand" or even "nose"
for this installment of our alphabetical journey
through the wonderful world of wine . . . we
thought it would be a whole lot more fun if
"N" were to stand for "Napa."
Napa's
Winemaking History
The
reason there's a community named Yountville
in the Napa Valley? In 1838, George C. Yount
planted mission grapes there, and during the
early 1840s, began making wines.
Charles
Krug established the first commercial winery
in the valley in 1861, and by the turn of the
century, other well-established estates included
Schramsberg, Beringer, Inglenook and Beaulieu.
Phylloxera,
a vine-strangling louse, has ravaged the valley
at various times, but more resistant rootstocks
have always been developed to prevent devastation.
It
took much longer for Napa to recover from the
government-imposed devastation of Prohibition.
It wasn't until the 1960s that Napa's renaissance-in-progress
began. Today, some 34,000 acres of the Napa
Valley are planted to vineyards.
The
Lay Of The Land
The
American Viticultural Area known as "Napa
Valley" begins at San Pablo Bay, northeast
of San Francisco.
The
valley extends north for some 30 miles to Mount
St. Helena, while its east-west width ranges
from one to four miles.
Air
temperatures vary greatly up, down and across
the valley, which accommodates the growing of
a wide array of winegrapes.
While
most famous for Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon,
Napa Valley vintners also craft top-quality
bottlings of Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc,
Riesling, Semillon, Gewurztraminer, Pinot Noir,
Merlot, Zinfandel, Cabernet Franc and Petite
Sirah.
5
Fascinating Facts About Napa Valley
1.
In 1960, there were 25 wineries in Napa Valley.
Today, there are around 300.
2.
Napa's reputation far surpasses its size. The
valley accounts for less than 5 percent of California's
winegrapes.
3.
The coolest part of the valley is its southernmost
area, the Carneros district. Temperatures are
kept lower by the fog off San Pablo Bay and
ocean breezes. There also are vineyards planted
in the higher elevations of the foothills, where
the temperatures are quite cool.
4.
The hottest area of the valley is in and around
Calistoga in the north, where cool nights make
possible the crafting of world-class wines.
5.
Within the Napa Valley AVA, there are 10 smaller
AVAs, all of which are known for producing quality
fruit and wines:
- Carneros
(which Napa shares with Sonoma County)
- Spring
Mountain
- Mt.
Veeder
- Howell
Mountain
- Stags
Leap District
- Atlas
Peak
- Wild
Horse Valley
- Rutherford
- Oakville
- St.
Helena
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***2000
Chappellet Chenin Blanc***
***1997
Robert Pecota Steven Andre
Merlot***
