
Napa Valley Wine California
Learn about Napa Valley wine, common tasting notes, where the region is and more ...
One of the world's most highly regarded regions for wine production as well as tourism, the Napa Valley was responsible for bringing worldwide recognition to California winemaking. In the 1960s, a few key wine families settled the area and hedged their bets on the valley's world-class winemaking potential—and they were right.
The Napa wine industry really took off in the 1980s, when producers scooped up vineyard lands and planted vines throughout the county. A number of wineries emerged, and today Napa is home to hundreds of producers ranging from boutique to corporate. Cabernet Sauvignon is definitely the grape of choice here, with many winemakers also focusing on Bordeaux blends. Napa whites are usually Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc.
Within the Napa Valley lie many smaller sub-AVAs that claim specific characteristics based on situation, slope and soil. Farthest south and coolest from the influence of the San Pablo Bay is Carneros, followed by Coombsville to its northeast and then Yountville, Oakville and Rutherford. Above those are the warm St. Helena and the valley's newest and hottest AVA, Calistoga. These areas follow the valley floor and are known generally for creating rich, dense, complex and smooth reds with good aging potential. The mountain sub appellations, nestled on the slopes overlooking the valley AVAs, include Stags Leap District, Atlas Peak, Chiles Valley (farther east), Howell Mountain, Mt. Veeder, Spring Mountain District and Diamond Mountain District. Wines from the mountain regions are often more structured and firm, benefiting from a lot of time in the bottle to evolve and soften.
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Alta Quatreaux 2013Bordeaux Red Blends from Napa Valley, California
- W&S
- WE
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Storybook Mountain Eastern Exposures Zinfandel 2013Zinfandel from Napa Valley, California
- W&S
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Rocca Family Vineyards Collinetta Cabernet Sauvignon 2013Cabernet Sauvignon from Coombsville, Napa Valley, California
- W&S
- JS
- WE
- RP
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Turnbull Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon 2013Cabernet Sauvignon from Oakville, Napa Valley, California
- RP
- JS
- W&S
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Corison Kronos Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2013Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley, California
- D
- W&S
- JS
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Keenan Mernet Reserve 2013Bordeaux Red Blends from Spring Mountain District, Napa Valley, California
- RP
- W&S
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Diamond Creek Volcanic Hill Cabernet Sauvignon 2013Cabernet Sauvignon from Diamond Mountain District, Napa Valley, California
- WW
- RP
- W&S
- JS
- D
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Keenan Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2013Cabernet Sauvignon from Spring Mountain District, Napa Valley, California
- RP
- W&S
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Robert Craig Cellars Black Sears Vineyard Zinfandel 2013Zinfandel from Howell Mountain, Napa Valley, California
- WW
- W&S
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Duckhorn The Discussion 2013Bordeaux Red Blends from Napa Valley, California
- WW
- W&S