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Napa Valley is an official AVA appellation in Napa County, California, United States.
While Napa Valley produces less than 5% of all wine in the state, it has been a driving force behind the growing popularity of Californian wine throughout the world ever since Robert Mondavi, arguably the most famous vintner of Napa Valley, opened its winery here more than 40 years ago.
Napa Valley is a major attraction for wine lovers, who flock all year long to its trendy restaurants and cozy tasting rooms.
edit Tasting
Napa Valley is known to produce some of the best Cabernet Sauvignon in the world, with unique depth, length and complexity, and a high ageing potential.
Pinot Noir also reveals some surprising fruit flavors, while Syrah generally expresses an interesting depth.
Great white wines are also produced in the southern part of Napa Valley, made from Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc.
edit Facts and figures
- Official area: 225,280 acres (91,168 hectares)
- Planted area: 34,600 acres (14,000 hectares)
- Red varietals: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, Zinfandel, Cabernet Franc, Pinot Noir
- White varietals: Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc
edit History
The name "Napa" means "a land of plenty" in the language of the Wappo Indians who originally inhabited the valley. It was already known then as a fertile soil for all types of cultivation. Wild grapes grew in abundance, but winegrowing was only developed with the arrival of European settlers such as George Calvert Yount, who planted the first vineyard in Yountville in 1836, or Charles Krugg, who established the first commercial winery in 1861.
By 1889 there was more than 140 wineries in operation. This booming wine industry was greatly hurt by the arrival of phylloxera in the late 19th century, then came to a halt in 1920 with the enactment of Prohibition until 1933, when it was quickly revived with tremendous expansion.
Refinement of winegrowing practices started in 1944 when a group of Napa Valley vintners laid the foundation for the Napa Valley Vintners, a dynamic trade organization which helped advancing Napa Valley's wines both domestically and abroad.
World recognition came suddenly in 1976, when a Franco-Californian tasting held in Paris to commemorate the US Bicentennial gave the first places to two Napa Valley wineries, in both red and white categories. This victory led some of the most famous French winemakers to invest in Napa Valley vineyards, such as Baron Philippe de Rothschild, owner of the great Mouton-Rothschild estate in Pauillac, who forged a partnership with Robert Mondavi in 1979.
In 1981, the first Napa Valley Wine Auction was sponsored at Meadowood resort. Over the years, the event gained recognition around the world, giving more than $85 million over the years to local health care, youth programs and affordable housing.
Napa Valley is now home to more than 300 wineries practicing cutting-edge science as well as traditional techniques, and its reputation for producing world-class wines is firmly established in an ever-growing global market.
edit Geography
The region is much diverse, with more than 150 different types of soil.
This narrow valley is formed by the Napa River, over 50 km (30 miles) between the Mayacamas and Vaca mountain ranges. Sediments brought from Mount Veeder and Atlas Peak also contributed to the diversity of the soils along the valley.
The best winegrowing soil is found in the deep, well-drained alluvia along the river, while the higher soils are shallower and less fertile.
Distinct regions with specific characters have emerged within the Napa Valley, gaining their own AVA status over time. These include Atlas Peak, Chiles Valley, Diamond Mountain District, Howell Mountain, Los Carneros, Mount Veeder, Oakville, Rutherford, Saint Helena, Spring Mountain District, Stags Leap District, Yountville, Wild Horse Valley and the Oak Knoll District of Napa Valley.
edit Climate
The long growing season is marked by sunny, warm and dry days followed by cool evenings, an ideal combination for allowing grapes to ripen slowly and evenly.
Summer temperatures are low compared to the rest of the state, with an average of 6.3°C / 43.3°F mostly due to cool winds from the Pacific Ocean.
The southern part of the Valley is generally cooler.
Sun exposure is generally high in the summer, especially on the eastern banks of the river.
Most vineyards are covered by fog during summer mornings. High-elevation vineyards do not benefit of this cooling influence, and are exposed to a much warmer climate with a longer sun exposure.
edit Viticulture
World-famous Cabernet Sauvignon of Napa Valley is mostly produced in the northern part of the valley. Southern vineyards are better suited for white winegrapes such as Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc.
edit See also
