Archive for May, 2007Oak Knoll has had a reputation as a fine wine producing region for many generations. You will find Oak Knoll in the southern part of Napa Valley. When you visit this region you will discover that it is typically less crowded than many other regions in the area. One of the reasons for this is the fact that most of the wineries in the region are located off of Highway 29 rather than directly on the highway. This can be a tremendous advantage for the tourist; however, as it typically means that the tasting rooms will be less crowded. The climate in this region is somewhat transitional due to the fact that it receives the cooler winds from San Pablo Bay in addition to the warmer air coming from the North. This area has often been described as a ‘sweet spot,’ a term that was coined by John Trefethen. As a result of the transitional climate a wide variety of different grapes can be grown in this region. In the eastern part of Napa Valley, you will find Carneros. While Napa Valley has certainly become famous around the world in the last thirty years, Carneros has become decidedly unique. While you will certainly find plenty of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay in Carneros, you will also find plenty of Syrah and Merlot as well. Some of the most well known wineries in Carneros include Talisman Cellars, Etude and Truchard Vineyards. One of the reasons that the wineries in the Carneros region have become so successful is widely attributed to the cooling by the fog and the wind from the San Pablo Bay. Still, you will typically find that compared to numerous other wine regions in California, the weather in Carneros is still rather warm. On the Napa side of Carneros, the weather tends to be warmer than on the Sonoma side. The first local grapes were planted in Rutherford by Thomas Rutherford in the middle of the 19th century. This began the illustrious history of the Rutherford Wineries. The name of this region was derived from Thomas Rutherford, who contributed so much to the history and development of the region. Today, the original land on which those first grapes were planted is owned by Provenance Vineyards, a winery respected in its own right. The Rutherford family held strong ties throughout the Napa Valley wine region as Rutherford married one of the granddaughter’s of George Calvert Yount; Elizabeth Yount. For their wedding present, Thomas and Elizabeth were presented with a large parcel of land in what was at the time a northern tract of Caymus Rancho, belonging to Yount. Significant time, as well as energy, were spent developing the vineyards there and producing wine. As a result of their efforts, the Rutherfords gained a strong following. The weather in Mount Veeder tends to be rainier than the rest of Napa Valley. This is because of the Redwood and Round Creek watersheds. The great majority of the vineyards in Mount Veeder are situated near either Round Creek or Redwood Creek. Due to the abundance of large redwood and oak trees, in this region it is one of the most picturesque in Napa Valley. The startling elevation of the Mount Veeder AVA also contributes to its stunning beauty. The mountainside slopes of Mount Veeder ranges between 400 feet above sea le vel to 2,600 feet above sea level. While a number of regions in Napa Valley receive some protection from the winds of San Pablo Bay, Mount Veeder is more exposed to the winds. As a result, the afternoons tend to be very breezy and far cooler than other areas. This lends well to a long growing season. As you travel through Stags Leap, you will notice that there are numerous notable wineries in this region. As with most regions in Napa Valley, Cabernet Sauvignon rules here; although, you will find some wineries that experiment with other types as well including Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay. This is one of the premier regions in the area, consisting of a number of well known wineries as well as family owned and operated wineries. Clos du Val-Originally established in 1972 by John Goelet and Bernard Portet, this is one of the most expansive winery operations in the region as vineyards are also owned by Clos du Val in Carneros as well as Stags Leap. |