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Napa Valley Wines : Key Points

Napa - that means "land of plenty" in the language of the Wappo Indian tribe- is a vineyard overflowed with fine wines and legendary domains. Its story began in 1840, when the pioneer George C. Young planted the first vine. At the end of the 19th century, the Napa Valley counted more than 140 "wineries". In 1981, the Napa Valley became the first AVA (American Viticulture Area) and over the years, it became an unavoidable wine touristic region. Its 16 300 are located only an hour and a half away from San Francisco, and represent a multitude of microclimates and soils. The Napa Valley is divided in 12 areas and the most famous ones are Stags Leap District, Los Carneros, Paso Robles, Mount Veeder, Rutherford and Oakville. Several red grape varieties grow in the Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir and the local Zinfandel.