Napa Valley
It’s the Bordeaux of the New World and much more.
This strip of land is just 30 miles long and just a few miles wide. Sitting North of San Pablo Bay that brings the marine influence to the lower part of the valley, the valley is bordered by the Mayacama Mountains to the West that separate it from Sonoma and the Vaca Mountains to the East.
Within this 30-mile stretch that is the overarching Napa Valley AVA, you will find 16 nested AVAs.
Napa Valley and its AVAs
South of the city of Napa you find cooler climate appellations that are close to San Pablo Bay. These appellations benefit from the cool morning fog. Here you find Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. (Los Carneros AVA, Oak Knoll District AVA, Coombsville AVA, and Wild Horse Valley AVA)
Then there are vineyards that climb up the foothills into both the Mayacama and Vaca Mountains. These higher elevation appellations can be cooler due to their altitude. (Mount Veeder AVA, Spring Mountain District AVA, Diamond Mountain AVA in the foothills of the Mayacama Mountains, Atlas Peak AVA, and Howell Mountain AVA in the Vaca Mountains)
As you drive north through the valley and further from the marine influences and fog, things get warmer and more continental in climate. As you drive North from the Oak Knoll District AVA you pass by, the Yountville AVA, Stags Leap District AVA, Oakville AVA, Rutherford AVA, St. Helena AVA, and Calistoga AVA.
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