Wine - California - Napa County - Appellations

Front 1

Discuss the Atlas Peak AVA.

Back 1

Atlas Peak AVA
(Napa County)

The Atlas Peak appellation consists of 11,400 acres (4,600 hectares) on and around Atlas Peak mountain, where more than a quarter of California's Sangiovese vines are planted.

Front 2

Discuss the Carneros AVA.

Back 2

Carneros AVA
(Napa County, Sonoma County)

Also known as Los Carneros, this AVA overlaps Napa and Sonoma counties.

Front 3

Discuss the Chiles Valley AVA.
Where did it get its name?
What is the climate like?
What are the primary varieties planted?

Back 3

Chiles Valley AVA
(Napa County, California)

A narrow area of vines in the Vaca Mountains overlapping the northeast edge of the Napa Valley, the Chiles Valley was named after Joseph Ballinger Chiles, who was given a land grant for this area from the Mexican government in the middle of the 19th century. The cooling bay breezes that moderate the Napa Valley do not reach Chiles Valley, but its altitude of 800 to 1,000 feet (240 to 300 meters) and the prevailing northwesterly winds that funnel dry air through the valley, in combination with the airflow from the Vaca Mountains, tend to cool the grapes down more quickly than in the main areas of the Napa Valley itself. The vines growing here are primarily Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, and Sauvignon Blanc.

Front 4

Discuss the Diamond Mountain District AVA.
What is the soil like?
What is the climate like?
What varieties are most successful?

Back 4

Diamond Mountain District AVA
(Napa County)

Just one-tenth of this appellation's 5,000 acres (2,000 hectares) are planted. Diamond Mountain District AVA can be found in the Mayacamus Range on the northeastern corner of Napa Valley, where porous volcanic soils and extended exposure to the sun are the key to its legendary success for Cabernet Sauvignon. Other varieties, such as Cabernet Franc and Zinfandel, are almost as successful, and this is also the home of Schramsberg sparkling wine.

Front 5

Discuss the Howell Mountain AVA.
What grape varieties are best here?

Back 5

Howell Mountain AVA
(Napa County)

The relatively flat table-top of Howell Mountain is a sub-appellation of the Napa Valley, covering 22 square miles (57 square kilometers) and encompassing some 81 hectares (200 acres) of vineyards at an altitude of between 1,400 and 2,200 feet (420 and 890 meters). Vines were first planted here in 1880. It is best for Cabernet Sauvignon but also capable of top-flight Zinfandel and Chardonnay.

Front 6

Discuss the Mount Veeder AVA.
What is the climate like?
What are the dominant varieties?
What are they like when grown here?

Back 6

Mount Veeder AVA
(Napa County)

Situated on the east-facing slopes of the Mayacamus Mountains and named after the volcanic peak that dominates this AVA, Mount Veeder is one of the hilly areas where winemakers went to escape the Napa Valley's fertile valley floor. Cool sea breezes from San Pablo Bay and occasional marine fogs temper the climate, while air-drainage prevents frost. Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon are the two dominant varieties, the latter being quite exceptional in its varietal intensity and completely different in structure from the lush valley-floor Cabernets.

Front 7

Discuss the Napa County AO.

Back 7

(p487)
Napa County AO

This is an appellation that covers grapes grown anywhere in the entire county.

Front 8

Discuss the Napa Valley AVA.

Back 8

Napa Valley AVA

This AVA includes all of the county with the exception of the area around Putah Creek and Lake Berryessa. The Napa Valley appellation is 25 miles (40 kilometers) long and between 12 and 8 and 10 miles (16 kilometers) wide, and is sheltered by two parallel mountain ranges. The majority of vineyards occupy the flat valley floor in a continuous strip from Napa to Calistoga, although the slopes are also beginning to be cultivated.

Front 9

Discuss the Oakville AVA.

Back 9

Oakville AVA
(Napa County)

If Rutherford has the greatest concentration of famous Cabernet Sauvignon vineyards, then neighboring Oakville, which is equally Napa's heartland, excels by its very diversity. Great Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Chardonnay are made here, and even the Sauvignon Blanc from these vineyards can be extraordinary.

Front 10

Discuss the Rutherford AVA.
What is the best varietal?

Back 10

Rutherford AVA
(Napa County)

One of the most famous names in Napa, yet one of the last to gain AVA status because many growers feared that dividing the Napa Valley's heartland into smaller, possibly more prestigious subappellations would gradually have the effect of diluting the reputation of Napa itself. This AVA encompasses more than 30 wineries, including some of California's most famous, and contains many of Napa's greatest Cabernet Sauvignon vineyards.

Front 11

Discuss the Spring Mountain District AVA.

Back 11

Spring Mountain District AVA
(Napa County)

Originally proposed as Spring Mountain, but as this was already a brand name, the AVA was changed to Spring Mountain District to prevent confusion. This appellation is located within the Napa Valley AVA, just west of St. Helena, on the eastern flank of the Mayacamus Mountains, and comprises 8,600 acres (3,480 hectares), of which approximately 1,980 acres (800 hectares) are planted with vines.

Front 12

Discuss the St. Helena AVA.

Back 12

St. Helena AVA
(Napa County)

The latest AVA to be established (not really) in a bid to carve up the Napa Valley into communal districts in a similar manner to the Médoc, St. Helena is immediately north of Rutherford.

Front 13

Discuss the Stags Leap District AVA.
What is the best grape variety here?
What are some of the other good ones?

Back 13

Stags Leap District AVA
(Napa County)

Confusingly, Stags Leap is spelled in three slightly different ways: with an apostrophe before the "s" in the famous Stag's Leap Wine Cellar; with an apostrophe after the "s" in the lesser-known Stags' Leap Winery; and without an apostrophe in the AVA name. Stag's Leap Wine Cellar shot to fame in 1976 when its Cabernet Sauvignon trumped top Bordeaux wines at a blind tasting in Paris. Stags Leap District vies with Rutherford as the crème of Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, but also makes good Petit Sirah, excellent Merlot, and stunning red Bordeaux-style blends.

Front 14

Discuss the Wild Horse Valley AVA.

Back 14

Wild Horse Valley AVA
(Napa County)

Technically attached to Napa, Wild Horse Valley actually straddles the county line, occupying more of Solano than Napa.

Front 15

Discuss the Yountville AVA.

Back 15

Yountville AVA
(Napa County)

Although less famous than Rutherford or Oakville, this AVA does have one of the Napa Valley's coolest vineyard exposures, which is why some people rate its Cabernet Sauvignon above those of its neighbors.

Front 16

What are the AVAs of Napa County?

Back 16

Napa County:

Napa Valley AVA (1981)
Los Carneros AVA (1983)
Howell Mountain AVA (1983)
Wild Horse Valley AVA (with Solano County, 1988)
Stags Leap District AVA (1989)
Atlas Peak AVA (1992)
Mount Veeder AVA (1993)
Oakville AVA (1993)
Rutherford AVA (1993)
Spring Mountain District AVA (1993)
(St. Helena AVA (1995))
(Chiles Valley AVA (1999))
(Yountville AVA (1999))
(Diamond Mountain AVA (2001))
(Oak Knoll District of Napa Valley AVA (2004))
(Calistoga AVA (2010))