认为 纳帕谷, most wine lovers think Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay. Indeed, the 纳帕谷 is a single appellation, or AVA (American Viticultural Area). Yet within its borders reside 16 sub-appellations, each with its own distinctive microclimate, 而且经常, its own signature grapes.
的 St. 海伦娜艾娃, for example, home to the Rutherford 酒 Company, 大厅圣. 海伦娜 (California’s first LEED Gold Certified winery), many others on the celebrated Silverado Trail, is a warm area with less fog or wind than many more southern areas, making it perfect for a rainbow of varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon, 卡本内弗朗, 梅洛, 席拉, 馨芳葡萄酒, Sauvignon Blanc, 和维欧尼. Other estates that have turned the variations of 纳帕谷 terroir into signature pours are legion (this is Napa, 毕竟). Deserving starting points include the Fleury Estate 酒ry, which has three vineyards in three appellations at three elevations; Darioush Vineyards, where an appreciation for Bordeaux-style blends lends itself well to the grapes that come from such varied conditions; and Peju, where the celebrated Bordeaux varietals grown are partially credited to the unique “Rutherford Dust” terroir. For those who like to indulge in the twin passions of wine and chocolate, make a beeline for Baldacci Family Vineyards—— 酒 & Chocolate Tasting event pairs Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, a red blend with chocolates from local purveyor Flourish Chocolate.
Many wineries here have deep roots as pioneer vineyards, showcasing 纳帕谷’s longstanding commitment to premium grapes. Just a few examples: Larkmead, producers of some of Napa’s most celebrated Cabernet Sauvignons, can trace its history back to 1895; Mayacamas Vineyards is comprised of a stone building, which in 1889 was carved into the side of a dormant volcano crater on Mount Veeder (happily, that historic building survived the 2017 wine country wildfires). Sinegal Estate 曾经是一个圣徒。. 海伦娜 Pony Express stop, then the historic Inglewood Estate, before being bought and completely renovated by new owners in 2015. Beaulieu Vineyards, founded in 1900 and housed in a building that dates to 1885, managed to flourish during Prohibition, when so many Napa vineyards were forced to shutter, thanks to their contract to provide sacramental wines to the Catholic Church. And some wineries have brought their own sense of history: Calistoga’s Castello di Amorosa, owned by Dario Sattui, makes 意大利-inspired reds in a sprawling, 13th-century-style castle.
A new generation of wine growers is planting newer-to-the-area varieties as well. Summers Estate 酒s in the Calistoga AVA bottles Charbono, a rare 意大利 grape found on less than 100 acres in all of California, plus a Greek Muscat Canelli known in Europe as Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains. Plush, plummy 梅洛 is back in the spotlight too, such as Duckhorn Vineyard’s prized bottling from the Atlas Peak AVA.
Take a deep dive into Napa winemaking history at the free-admission 1881 Napa 酒 History Museum & 品酒沙龙, which offers Cabernet tastes after you take in the winemaking exhibits. 或者，试试 纳帕谷 酒 Trolley, a turn-of-the-century San Francisco cable car–style trolley. Guided tours take you to three wineries, you’ll learn about the growing and winemaking processes as well as taste the finished product.
更多的 Things to Do in 纳帕谷
For more ideas on how to spend your time during a visit here, check out Special Tours in 纳帕谷, 纳帕谷 Luxury Lodgings, Ideas for a Solo Trip to Napa and Sonoma, 纳帕谷 State & 城市公园. To discover some of the valley’s more under-the-radar gems, visit So You 认为 You Know the 纳帕谷?.
