Napa Valley. Legendary American Wines.

Although the most renowned in the United States, the Napa Valley Appellation is also one of the smallest yet most diverse winegrowing regions in the world. Only 4% of the wine grape harvest in California comes from the Napa Valley appellation, even though 8% of the state’s vineyards are found here. This is because the grape clusters are thinned to allow only the very best to come to fruition, resulting in harvesting at less than half the statewide average. Yields of Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley Appellation are generally 1½ to 4 tons per acre.

Located approximately 60 miles (100km) north of San Francisco, Napa Valley is bounded to the west by the Mayacamas Mountains and to the east by the Vaca Range. The appellation stretches 40 miles in a northwesterly direction, starting with the windswept flats and gentle hills of Carneros at the southern end—which is near sea level—and rising quickly above the Valley floor to Mount St. Helena at 4,339 feet (1,323 meter) at the head of the Valley.

The Napa Valley Appellation, which is one-eighth the size of Bordeaux, is planted to approximately 45,000 acres (18,210 hectares) of wine grapes, covering a mere 9% of the Appellation’s 485,000 total acres. The Valley was formed not only by tectonic plate movement and volcanic action, but also by alluvial runoff and the flooding of San Pablo Bay, which at one time reached as far north as the town of Yountville. Rocky knolls and alluvial fans interrupt the level expanses of the Valley floor, evidence of the geologic occurrences of the past.

The area’s topography, which includes flat valley floor, sloping alluvial fans, steep mountain slopes and high plateaus, supports more than 100 variations of soil, ranging from well-drained gravelly soil to moisture-retaining clay. These soils vary in depth and fertility, and the composition greatly affects the wine grapes. Generally, soils found on the Napa River flood plain and the Valley floor are deeper than the rocky soils covering the slopes and hills.

Napa Valley also enjoys the rare Mediterranean climate—which covers only 2% of the earth’s surface and features a long growing season marked by sunny, warm days followed by cool evenings—an ideal combination for allowing grapes to ripen slowly and evenly. The most moderate temperatures are found in the Carneros region, which is cooled by marine breezes that sweep through the Golden Gate and across San Pablo Bay. Farther up Valley, the Pacific Ocean exerts less influence: temperatures are warmer in the summer and cooler in the winter and rainfall is greater. On any given day the temperature difference between Carneros and Calistoga is as much as the temperature difference between the Atlantic and Mediterranean regions of France.

The configuration of hills, cooling effects of the Pacific Ocean, exposure and elevation all work to create distinct microclimates within the Napa Valley appellation, each imprinting recognizable characteristics on the grapes grown within it. Each of these regions is designated an American Viticultural Area (AVA). The Napa Valley itself is an AVA, with 15 sub-AVAs existing within its boundaries. This offers grape growers a spectrum of viticultural possibilities, winemakers a diverse palette from which to create, and consumers an array of quintessentially classic wines.

What is an Appellation?

An appellation is the geographically based name for a winegrowing region that shows unique characteristics of soil, climate, historical relevance and more. In the U.S., appellations are known as American Viticultural Areas (AVAs), and must be approved by the federal government. The term “sub appellation” is used informally to refer to a smaller AVA generally contained within a larger one. Napa Valley was the first AVA in California, officially recognized in 1981. For a wine to list the Napa Valley AVA or one of its subappellations on its label, at least 85% of the grapes must come from that AVA.

In 2007, Napa Valley was granted Geographic Indication (GI) status in the European Union

(EU)—the first region outside of the EU to be so recognized, and the first American product to garner this status. The Napa Valley is a founding member of a coalition of wine regions from around the globe that have partnered in the Joint Declaration to Protect Wine Place and Origin to build awareness of the importance of place to wine, and to protect geographic place names. Visit www.protectplace.com for more information.

Keeping Napa Green

The Napa Valley Agricultural Preserve, founded in 1968, was the first piece of legislation in the

U.S. to ever set aside land specifically for agriculture, and today includes more than 38,000 acres of farmland. Napa Valley continues to have some of the most proactive land use policies in the nation, including stream setback and hillside farming regulations.

Continuing its leadership role, the Napa Valley Vintners developed the industry’s most comprehensive sustainable farming program, Napa Green Certified Land. Tailored for each specific site the program identifies and implements best practices for sustainable techniques, soil and water conservation, erosion repair, chemical reduction or elimination, and wildlife habitat restoration for the entire property—vineyards as well as roads and non-farmed land.

Napa Green Certified Winery goes inside production facilities to identify and implement best practices to reduce green house gasses, recycle water and materials, conserve energy and more. In an interview with Wine Spectator, renowned environmentalist Yvon Chouinard, founder of Patagonia® gave high praise for Napa Green, “I’ve been at this for 30 years and this is the best, most well-thought-out program I've ever seen.”

The Diversity of the Napa Valley Appellation

Los Carneros

Climate: Cool, with marine winds from the San Pablo Bay as well as the Petaluma Gap to the west. High temperatures rarely exceed 80º (27ºC).

Elevation: sea level–700 feet (217 m)

Principal varieties: Pinot Noir, Merlot and Chardonnay

Wild Horse Valley

Climate: A warmer area well to the east, but still moderated by both altitude and prevailing winds coming off Suisun Bay to the southeast.

Elevation: 600–1900 feet (186–589 m)

Principal varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay

Mount Veeder

Climate: Cool to moderate, with most vineyards above the fog line, meaning warmer nights and cooler days than on the Valley floor. Typical summer highs are 85º (30ºC).

Elevation: 500–2,600 feet (155–806 m)

Principal varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Zinfandel and Chardonnay

Oak Knoll District of Napa Valley

Climate: Moderate to cool, with marine air and fog often remaining until late morning. Afternoon breezes frequently occur, maintaining slightly cooler temperatures than up-Valley. Summer temperatures may reach 92º (31.5ºC) and drop to around 50º (10ºC) at night.

Elevation: sea level–800 feet (244 m)

Principal varieties: Merlot, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc and Riesling

Yountville

Climate: Moderate, with cool marine influence and fog contributing to cool

summer mornings. The marine breeze keeps afternoons more comfortable

than further up-Valley. Summer peak temperatures may reach 90º (31ºC),

with nighttime temperatures dropping into the mid-50sº (13ºC).

Elevation: 20–200 feet (6–61 m)

Principal varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot

Stags Leap District

Climate: Moderately warm with afternoon marine winds cooling the warmer air radiating off the bare rocks of Stags Leap and the surrounding hillsides. Summer temperatures can reach 100º, but more regularly are in mid-90sº (32–34ºC).

Elevation: sea level–500 feet (155 m)

Principal varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Sangiovese, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc

Atlas Peak

Climate: Cool-mountain influenced with temperatures about 10–15º cooler than the Valley floor in summer. Above the fog line, there is low day-to-night temperature range, with summer rarely rising above 90º (30ºC).

Elevation: 760–2600 feet (232–806 m)

Principal varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay

Oakville

Climate: Moderately warm, with temperatures commonly in the mid-90sº (32–34ºC) in summer, but affected by night and early morning fog. The east side receives more warm afternoon sun.

Elevation: sea level–500 feet (155 m)

Principal varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Sauvignon Blanc

Rutherford

Climate: Moderately warm, still marginally influenced by early morning fog. The western bench area is cooler, with less late afternoon sun, tempered by afternoon marine winds. Usual summer peak temperatures are mid-90sº (32–34ºC) with a distinct day-to-night temperature fluctuation.

Elevation: sea level–600 feet (186 m)

Principal varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Zinfandel

St. Helena

Climate: Warm, due to greater protection from western hills, with less fog and wind. The narrowing of the Valley floor provides more heat reflection off the hillsides. Summer temperatures often peak in the mid-to-high 90sº range (31–35ºC).

Elevation: 100–700 feet (31–217 m)

Principal varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Syrah, Zinfandel and Viognier

Spring Mountain District

Climate: Cool weather prevails, with a lower day-to-night fluctuation in temperatures.

Elevation: 600–2600 feet (186–806 m)

Principal varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Chardonnay and Zinfandel

Chiles Valley District

Climate: Summer temperatures peak in the mid-80sº (30ºC), but due to higher elevation and summer fog at night, drop to below 50º (10ºC) at night.

Elevation: 600–1200 feet (186–372 m)

Principal varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc

Howell Mountain

Climate: Slightly warmer and drier overall due to strong afternoon sun influence.

Elevation: 600–2600 feet (186–806 m)

Principal varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Zinfandel and Viognier

Diamond Mountain District

Climate: Moderately warm temperatures with less fluctuation than the north Napa Valley floor. Temperatures in the summer range from 50–90° (10–32°C).

Elevation: 400–2200 feet (130–530 m)

Principal varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Chardonnay

Calistoga

Climate: Daytime summer temperatures peak above 100º (37ºC) and fall to low 40sº (7ºC) at night, due to cool marine air drawn into the Valley from the northwestern hills. Cool afternoon and evening breezes continue the process, and on clear nights are assisted by cold air sliding down the mountainsides to the Valley floor.

Elevation: 300–1200 feet (92–370 m)

Principal varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, Syrah and

Petite Sirah