Napa Valley: Wine and Good Times

A Beautiful Fall Day in Napa Valley1

Surrounded by the spectacular natural beauty of rolling hills, mountains, sunny skies and some of the best wine in the world, travelers will not be disappointed on a Napa Valley wine tour. Located in northern California, Napa Valley's Mediterranean climate is ideal for growing quality grapes and ensuring visitors enjoy a comfortable vacation.

Many different wine tours are offered throughout the area, whether they are self-guided or led by a tour company or expert in the industry, travelers will have many options. Visit everything from wineries with art galleries and bocce ball courts to wineries that are off the beaten path, the choices are endless. Despite the plethora of options, travelers will find that no matter which wineries or vineyards they choose to visit, they undoubtedly will be viewing a lot of scenic and natural beauty.

HISTORY

Napa Valley is known as an American Viticultural Area (AVA). Areas that have been designated as an AVA are known to be wine grape-growing regions in the United States. Napa Valley's first commercial vineyard was established in 1858 by John Patchett, while the first winery was opened in 1861 by Charles Krug in St. Helena, CA.

1800s to 1930s
The 1800s and early 1900s saw several setbacks in Napa, which included phylloxera (yellow sap sucking insects that feed on the roots of grapevines), Prohibition in 1920, which led to wineries being shut down, and the Great Depression in the 1930s, which slowed down the economy.

	Napa Valley Pinot Gris Grapes2

Often credited with ushering in the modern era of winemaking in the late 1930s, André Tchelistcheff introduced a variety of winemaking methods to the California region. He gave instructions on how to age wine in small French oak barrels, cold fermentation, vineyard frost prevention and malolactic fermentation (changing tart malic acid in wine to gentler-tasting lactic acid).

A member of the Christian Brothers, Brother Timothy who was a wine chemist also played an influential role in the modern Napa Valley wine industry. The Christian Brothers focused on growing grapes and making sacramental wine in Benicia, CA during Prohibition but later decided to switch over to commercial production. Their advertisements featured Brother Timothy's smiling face.

1970 to Present
The Napa Valley wine region experienced positive growth after the Paris Wine Tasting of 1976. The area became known as a world class wine producing region when the Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon wine varieties beat several famous French wines in a blind tasting competition. Today more than 340 wineries can be found in Napa Valley and many offer several tour options. Popular wine varieties from the region include Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Merlot and Chardonnay.

WINE AND ART TOURS

For those who have a passion for both art and wine, why not combine those passions by taking a wine tour that also focuses on showcasing quality art. Many local Napa Valley wineries offer this winning combination. Several winery owners are also avid art collectors and have decided to put some of their personal collections on display. Visitors may view a variety of sculptures, paintings and fabric art located throughout the wineries.

A Vineyard and Winery in Napa Valley3

Situated 2 mi (3 km) south of Calistoga, Clos Pegase features a harmonious combination of modern art, architecture and wine. This is the winery that architectural giant Michael Graves built. Visitors here can also enjoy a picnic in an area located adjacent to the vineyards, which is covered by the shady canopy of a 300 year old oak tree.

The Hess Collection located in Napa, is home to a large portion of art collected by Donald Hess since the early 1960s. Here guests can view some of the works by artists such as Francis Gertsch, Robert Motherwell, Francis Bacon, Anselm Kiefer and more while sipping on some of their best wines.

Oakville's, Robert Mondavi Winery has a permanent collection of art on display which includes a variety of sculptures, artifacts and paintings. The winery also features a rotating collection of art by local and emerging artists. The exhibits rotate every two months.

LIMO WINE TOURS

Enjoy tasting some of the world's finest wine and viewing scenic Napa Valley in the comfort of a limo. There are plenty of limo wine tour options offered for the region.

Beau Wine Tours offers custom limousine wine tours with an experienced guide at the wheel. Guests can choose from four, six or eight hour private Napa Valley Wine tour options. Some include a gourmet picnic lunch, or if so desired travelers can design their own custom tour.

Another choice is Terrific Tours, which offers comprehensive wine tours led by industry professionals who can educate guests on how to taste wine and how it is made, among other useful information that will ensure a fun yet informative wine tour.

BOCCE BALL WINERIES

For those not familiar with the game of bocce, it is a precision sport with ancestry dating back to ancient games played in the Roman Empire. The modern version of this game is similar to bowling and requires skill, strategy and a bit of luck. The game as played today was developed into its present form in Italy. Bocce is a common passtime among Italians and other Europeans. For them a game of bocce and wine go hand-in-hand and therefore, sampling wine and then playing a friendly game of bocce is a great way to spend a day in Napa Valley.

Located in St. Helena, Nichelini Winery is the oldest family-owned and operated winery in Napa County offering guests the opportunity to play a game or two of bocce after touring the winery.

Summers Estate Wines in Calistoga is another good bet for travelers interested in a little wine and bocce. They also feature scenic views of Old Faithful Geyser, a natural phenomenon featuring gallons of steaming hot water shooting skyward.

OFF THE BEATEN PATH WINE TOURS

When looking for something a little different, wineries that are literally located off the beaten path are good options. Outpost Wines is perched atop Howell Mountain in Angwin at an elevation of 2100 ft (640 m). Established in 1998, Outpost is one of the world's Zinfandel growing regions.

Travelers might also want to try the wineries located along what is known as The Silverado Wine Trail. Located on the east side of Napa Valley, this is the area frequented more often by locals rather than tourists. A couple worth trying are Chimney Rock Winery in Napa and PlumpJack Winery in Oakville. Chimney Rock Winery features amazing architecture and a lovely white building resting against hillside vineyards. Some of their wines include Cabernet Sauvignon and Rosé of Cabarnet Franc, while Plumpjack Winery specializes in Cabernet laced with hints of fig, licorice, new oak and black currants.

1. A Vineyard in the Fall; Napa Valley, California, USA
2. Pinot Gris Grapes; Napa Valley, California, USA
3. Vineyard and Winery; Napa Valley, California, USA