When plan your limousine trip to Napa Valley for wine tasting we take into consideration few factors. One of them is georgaphy of the Napa Valley. Please consider reading information below, it will help you understand the Napa Valley better.
The Napa Valley itself is an applelation stretching over 50 miles, and within it you will find 14 sub-appelations.
* Atlas Peak AVA (Varietals produced : Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Sangiovese, Syrah, Zinfandel)
The Atlas Peak AVA is an American Viticultural Area located within Napa Valley AVA just northeast of the city of Napa. The appellation sits on a higher elevation than most of Napa’s wine region which limits the effects of the cool fog coming in from Pacific Ocean. The westward orientation of most vineyards on the Vaca Mountains also extends the amount of direct sunlight on the grapes. The soil of this AVA is volcanic and very porous which allows it to cool down quickly despite the increased sunlight. The area has a fairly significant diurnal temperature variation upwards of 30°F between daytime and night. This contributes to the balance of acidity that grapes from Atlas Peak vineyards are known to have.
* Chiles Valley AVA (Varietals produced : Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, Zinfandel)
The Chiles Valley AVA is an American Viticultural Area located within Napa Valley AVA. The Chiles Valley is nestled in the Vaca Mountains on the northeast side of Napa Valley. The appellation has a warmer and more continental climate than other portions of Napa Valley. The cooling fog and winds that moderate temperatures in other parts of Napa Valley have difficulty reaching as far inland as Chiles Valley. The most planted grapes in Chiles Valley are Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, and Sauvignon Blanc. Chiles Valley was named after Joseph Ballinger Chiles, who received a patent for the land from the Mexican government in the mid-1800s.
* Diamond Mountain District AVA (Varietals produced : Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Sauvignon Blanc)
The Diamond Mountain District AVA is an American Viticultural Area located in California’s Mayacamas Mountains in the northeast portion of the Napa Valley AVA. The appellation sits at a higher elevation than most of Napa Valley’s wine region, resulting in less cool fog coming in from San Pablo Bay, and more direct exposure to sunlight. The soil of this AVA is volcanic and very porous which allows it to cool down quickly despite the increased sunlight.
* Howell Mountain AVA (Varietals produced : Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Grenache, Malbec, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Petite Sirah, Sauvignon Blanc, Zinfandel)
The Howell Mountain AVA is an American Viticultural Area located within Napa Valley AVA. Howell Mountain is located in the Vaca Mountains on the northeast side of Napa Valley and overlooks the town of St. Helena, California. Howell Mountain AVA was the first sub-appellation of Napa Valley when it was approved as a designated American Viticultural Area in 1983. Most vineyards in the Howell Mountain AVA are planted between 1,400feet (430m) and 2,200feet (670m) above sea level, well above the elevations in Napa Valley that are most affected by the cool fog and winds from San Pablo Bay. The mountain does get cool breezes directly from the Pacific Ocean, and the relatively high elevations result in a cooler climate than on the valley floor. The soil in the appellation is volcanic with excellent drainage.
* Los Carneros AVA (Varietals produced : Albarino, Barbera, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Dolcetto, Gewurztraminer, Grenache, Malbec, Marsanne, Merlot, Muscat Canelli, Nebbiolo, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, Pinot Meunier, Pinot Noir, Riesling, Roussanne, Sauvignon Blanc, Syrah, Tempranillo, Tocai Friulano, Vernaccia, Viognier, Zinfandel)
Los Carneros AVA (also known as Carneros AVA) is an American Viticultural Area which includes parts of both Sonoma and Napa counties in California, U.S.A.. It is located north of San Pablo Bay. The close proximately to the cool fog and breezes from the bay makes the climate in Los Carneros cooler and more moderate than the wine regions further north in Napa Valley and Sonoma Valley. The cooler climate has made Los Carneros attractive for the cultivation of cooler climate varietals like Pinot noir and Chardonnay. Many of the grapes grown in Los Carneros are used for sparkling wine production. Receiving its AVA status in 1983, the Carneros area was the first wine region in California to be defined by it climate characteristics rather than political boundaries.
* Mt. Veeder AVA (Varietals produced : Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Malbec, Merlot, Petite Sirah, Syrah, Viognier, Zinfandel)
The Mt. Veeder AVA is an American Viticultural Area located within Napa Valley AVA among the Mayacamas Mountains. The boundaries of this appellation include 25square miles (64.7km2) with 1,000acres (400ha) planted on thin volcanic soil. Many vineyards are found on the steep mountain face some as steep as 30°. The steepness of the angle gives the vineyards benefits of more direct sunlight and better drainage.
Wineries making wines from Mt. Veeder grapes include: Hess Collection, Wing Canyon Vineyard, Vinoce, Yates Family Vineyard, Rubissow, Mount Veeder Winery, Lokoya, Lagier-Meredith, Franus, O’ Shaughnessy, Domaine Chandon, Mayacamas Vineyards, Sky, Random Ridge, Cuvaison, Godspeed and Hendry. The unique sense of place, or terroir of the Mt. Veeder AVA produces wines that are typically powerful in structure – depending on how they are made and how the vines are tended. For example, Cabernet Sauvignon grown on the mountain commonly shows “briary” flavors, moderate to bold tannins and herbal, floral aromatics. With the increasing interest in wine in America, wines grown in sub appellation AVA’s such as Mt. Veeder are gaining recognition for their unique sense of terroir.
* Oak Knoll District of Napa Valley AVA (Varietals produced : Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Malbec, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Riesling, Syrah, Viognier, Zinfandel )
The Oak Knoll District of Napa Valley AVA is an American Viticultural Area located within Napa Valley AVA at the southern end of valley floor. The appellation’s close proximity to San Pablo Bay results in a climate that is cooler and more moderate than any region in Napa Valley other than the Los Carneros AVA. A wide variety of wine grapes do well in this climate, including varietals not widely grown in other parts of Napa Valley, such as Riesling and Pinot Noir. Oak Knoll District has begun to develop a reputation for a restrained, delicate style of Chardonnay. The appellation was officially designated a sub-appellation of the Napa Valley AVA on February 25, 2004.
* Oakville AVA (Varietals produced : Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay)
The Oakville AVA is an American Viticultural Area located within Napa Valley AVA and centered around the town of Oakville, California. The appellation extends over a flat expanse of well drained gravel soil between the Vaca and Mayacamas Mountains. Oakville AVA is known for its success with Bordeaux varietals, which have produced wines of rich texture, firm tannins and notes of mint and herbs. The soil of the Oakville AVA are the result of sedimentary deposits from the hills that form Napa Valley. The soil is gravelly and sandy, with exceptionally good drainage. The portion of the AVA between State Route 29 and the Silverado Trail are a mix of clay and well-drained sandy loam. Oakville AVA has a warm climate well suited to wine grape production. Wind and fog arriving from San Pablo Bay can affect the morning and evening hours, but their effects are limited by the intervening Yountville Mounts. H. W. Crabb planted the first vineyard here in 1868, on 240acres (97ha) of land close to the Napa River that he named To Kalon, Greek for “most beautiful”. By 1877, Crabb had planted 130acres (53ha) and was producing 50,000 gallons (189,250 liters) of wine per year. By 1880, his vineyard had increased to 430acres (174ha). The historical To Kalon Vineyard, part of which is owned by the Robert Mondavi Winery, and part of which is owned by Andy Beckstoffer, is still producing grapes today. In 1903, the United States Department of Agriculture established an experimental vineyard station in Oakville. Known as “Oakville Station”, the vineyard is operated by the University of California at Davis. Oakville AVA was officially declared a sub-appellation of Napa Valley in 1993
* Rutherford AVA (Varietals produced : Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Malbec, Merlot, Nebbiolo, Petit Verdot, Petite Sirah, Pinot Noir, Sangiovese, Sauvignon Blanc, Syrah, Zinfandel)
The Rutherford AVA is an American Viticultural Area located within Napa Valley AVA and centered around the town of Rutherford, California. The area is known for its unique terroir particularly with its Cabernet Sauvignon. The well drained soil of this area is composition of gravel, loam and sand with volcanic deposits and marine sediments from the Franciscan Assemblage. The appellation accounts for only 6,650acres (27km2) in the center of Napa Valley but has been home to some of the regions most historic and world renowned wineries such as Beaulieu Vineyards and Inglenook Winery.
* Spring Mountain District AVA (Varietals produced : Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Zinfandel, Petit Verdot, Syrah, Petite Sirah, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling)
The Spring Mountain District AVA is an American Viticultural Area located in the Napa Valley AVA in California. Spring Mountain District AVA was officially established as an American Viticulture Area in 1993. Encompassed within its bounds are about 8,600acres (3,480ha), of which about 1,000acres (400ha) are planted to vineyards. Given the small crop yields on hillsides, the region represents less than 2% of Napa Valley wine. Currently the region has just over 30 winegrowers.
The appellation sits on steep terraces of the Mayacamas Mountains that separate Napa Valley from Sonoma Valley and the Santa Rosa Plain. It lies in a northwestern portion of the Napa Valley above and behind the town of Saint Helena. The boundaries of the appellation extend from the top of the ridgeline on the western edge, tracing the Sonoma/Napa County border. From the ridgeline the boundaries extend down to the 400feet (122m) contour line at the eastern base of the hillside. The southern boundary is Sulphur Creek and one of its tributaries, while the northern boundary is Ritchie Creek. Elevations range from 400feet (122m) to 2,600feet (792m). The region has a predominantly eastern exposure
* St. Helena AVA (Varietals produced : Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Sangiovese, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Syrah, Petit Verdot)
The St. Helena AVA (or Saint Helena AVA) is an American Viticultural Area located within Napa Valley, centered around the town of St. Helena, California. The appellation covers 9,000acres (3,642ha) along the flat narrow land towards the northern end of the valley between the Vaca and Mayacamas Mountains. Charles Krug, considered by many to be the father of Napa Valley wine, opened his Charles Krug Winery here in 1861.
* Stags Leap District AVA (Varietals produced : Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Malbec, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Zinfandel)
The Stags Leap District AVA is an American Viticultural Area located within the Napa Valley AVA 6miles (9.7km) north of the city of Napa, California. The Stags Leap District was the first appellation to be designated an AVA based on the unique terroir characteristics of its soil. The soil of this region include loam and clay sediments from the Napa River and volcanic soil deposits left over from erosion of the Vaca Mountains. Like many Napa Valley AVAs, Stags Leap District is particularly known for it Cabernet Sauvignon. In 1976 at the Judgement of Paris wine tasting, the 1973 Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars Cabernet from this AVA won first place in the red wine category, beating out classified Bordeaux estates.
* Wild Horse Valley AVA (Varietals produced : Pinot Noir)
The Wild Horse Valley AVA is an American Viticultural Area whose borders overlap both Napa County and Solano County, California and is partially contained within the Napa Valley AVA. The appellation’s southerly location results in more hours of sunshine than other locations in Napa Valley or nearby Green Valley. The proximity to San Pablo Bay results in a cooler climate, making Wild Horse Valley attractive for the cultivation of grapes like Pinot Noir.
* Yountville AVA (Varietals produced : Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Gewurztraminer, Malbec, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Petite Sirah, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Noir, Sangiovese, Sauvignon Blanc, Syrah, Zinfandel)
The Yountville AVA is an American Viticultural Area located within Napa Valley AVA and centered around the town Yountville, California. The town’s founder George Calvert Yount planted the first vineyard in this area around 1836. Yountville AVA is one of the coolest wine regions in Napa Valley, which helps contribute to a long growing season. The area is particularly known for its very tannic Cabernet Sauvignon varietal wines that have the capability of aging well in the bottle.
