Napa Valley wine doesn’t just come from one of the top wine regions in California, but in all of the United States. The climate, geography and geology trifecta come together to make the perfect environment for growing quality wine grapes. Because of various geographical and weather influences, the region is fantastic for growing several different types of grapes, many of which need separate climates to thrive.

In 1864, pioneer George C. Yount decided to plant the first wine grapes in Napa Valley. That year, Yount’s daughter, Elizabeth, and her new husband received 1,040 acres of land in Napa Valley as a wedding gift. That area, known as Rutherford, has been established as one of the best places for grapes that get turned into high quality wine.

The valley’s first commercial vineyard was established by John Pratchett in 1858, followed in 1861 by the area’s first commercial winery in St. Helena. However, things weren’t always peachy in the Napa Valley.

In the late 19th and 20th centuries, the phylloxera root louse killed a lot of the vines in the valley. Just as they were starting to recover, prohibition was enacted and many wineries were forced to shut down (although a few were allowed to remain open to produce sacramental wine). Some vineyards remained open, selling grapes to home wine makers. When the Great Depression hit, the wine business slowed even more.

Fortunately, not all was lost. In 1933, Prohibition was repealed. Around that time, Georges de Latour started importing vines that were resistant to the phylloxera pest. These insect resistant vine strains are still used today.

Currently, Napa Valley wine is being consumed more than ever. There are more than 340 Napa Valley wineries producing many different kinds of the beverage. More than 4.7 million people visit the region each year, making it the second most popular tourist attraction in California, following Disneyland.

Amazon.com Review
We’ve all experienced the annoyance of room-temperature liquids when you want them icy cold. This little sleeve cools bottles of wine or juice in about five minutes. The sleeve stores in the freezer, like most reusable ice packs–just pull it out, slip it over the bottle, and spend those five minutes admiring Guy Buffet’s painting of overworked sommeliers that decorates the exterior of the sleeve. The inside diameter measures a bit less than 5 inches–perfect for champagne, sparkling cider, or your favorite Chardonnay. –Jill Lightner

Guy Buffet is one of America’s most popular artists. He was born in Paris and spent much of his youth working in his parents’ Paris restaurant. This wine cooler shows a ba (more…)

Please give me the amount of hourse it would take to get to The Napa Valley From Fresno CA. and reply FAST please.
thank you

We are traveling to california in a couple of weeks and need a reasonable place to stay in napa valley.

Me and my wife and some other friends who are couples also, are going on a weekend trip to Napa Valley, just wondering what else was there to do besides the wine thing.

I’ve never been to Napa Valley and seeking a very romantic and fablous meal on New Years with my girlfriend. Any restaurants that are known for quality and a romantic ambiance will work…also we like steak and seafood if that helps or any place you recommend?

Amazon.com Review
Capable of chilling a bottle of wine (or other beverage) in 5 minutes and then keeping it chilled for hours, this sleeve replaces an ice bucket and doesn’t require a bar towel to dry the bottle. The sleeve has six pockets containing a special liquid that freezes solid when placed in a refrigerator’s freezer for several hours. The sleeve then slips over a standard 750-milliliter wine bottle. Flexible and virtually unbreakable, the sleeve is chrome-colored so it looks good at the table. Storing it in the freezer keeps it ready for use at any time. –Fred Brack

Chilling drinks quickly and keeping them cold is no longer a problem using the Rapid Ice! The amazing Rapid Ice Coolers can best be describe (more…)

Napa Valley area is about 30 miles long with more than 46,000 acres are planted dedicated to grapes. Its breadth arrays from five miles close to the metropolis of Napa to just one mile where this valley narrows by the civic of Calistoga. Globally recognized as one of the globe’s supreme wine regions, it is about one-eighth the size of Bordeaux, France. When you take Napa Valley Wine Tour, you will see that food and wine combination is a highly appreciated.

The famous rules – first and foremost red wine along with red meat and white wine along with fish and chick- however, do not just stick on to the earlier way, today international and delicately flavored foods and the matching huge range of wines from across the globe are now expediently available to everyone with the wine country tours. Most recently you are more probable to come across food and wine pairing ideas than cast-iron rules. There’s substantial way for testing and appearance of your own character in combing food and wine. Napa tours and wine tasting are actually amazing way to attempt special wines and study that you really favor. Then start with the foods along with wines you enjoy.

Choose a high-quality wine and couple it with your meal and probably you would not go wrong. While wine is created in many various areas of California, the Napa Valley and Sonoma County are only regions, which many people think of when they want a wine tour around California. Napa Valley is also recognized as an American Capital for Wine and delicious food. You can further get and explore the rich tradition and the specialties of the world renowned and family oriented wineries across Napa and Sonoma Valley.

If you planning to take up a wine tours then just be seated back and calm down while tasting flattering sparkling wine in one of the latest you will come across during your tour around any Napa or Sonoma tours. In addition, you can get wineries of your taste or in case you want to opt for one of the set itineraries to choose from – the choice is yours, so make it wise!

Built in 1879, the Napa Valley Opera House was the backdrop for what was considered to be the only “permissible” form of entertainment of its day. Home to many classic acts including Gilbert and Sullivan, it was the place to be seen by men and women of higher status.

Just thirty-five years later the Opera House closed its doors. It hardly recovered after the 1906 San Francisco Bay Earthquake and new innovations in entertainment like the movie cinema. For more than half a century various businesses set up shop in the Opera House. During World War 1 the military even turned it into a makeshift armory for a time.

The Napa Valley Opera House was nearly torn down in 1973 until a group of historical preservationists rallied to list it as a National Historic Landmark. In 1985, the late artist Veronica di Rosa and her friends formed what was to become the Napa Valley Opera House Non-Profit Group and purchased the property. Unfortunately di Rosa didn’t live to see the project completed.

Now, completely refurbished, the Napa Valley Opera house owes its renewed, glorious state to the caring entrepreneurs and citizens of Napa Valley. Vineyard owner Robert Mondavi issued a $2,000,000 grant ‘ and challenge that the non-profit group met with fervor, raising an additional $2,000,000 used to restore it to its former glory. A year later, in 1998, the Light the Lights Community Campaign raised half a million dollars to further champion the cause.

Those involved in rejuvenating and restoring the Opera House also went the extra mile to update its amenities. Improvements included a more suitable orchestra pit and a 25′ addition called the River House that provided more room and tied the project into the Napa River development project. The generosity and concern of the community continued throughout this process. Studio 1030 was developed for the sole purpose of raising the $3,000,000 needed to complete the restoration.

In June of 2002 performances began at the Napa Valley Opera House. Dianne Reeves was bestowed the honor of performing for the opening season. Other shows followed including family shows and classical music. The 2002 season was a success.

The day finally came in 2003 when the main theater of the Opera House could officially open its doors to the main theater. It was the first time since 1913 it could boast that claim. The glory of the Napa Valley Opera House was a dream no more. It is an incredible story of a community coming together to honor history and art and home. After countless hours volunteered by the community, millions of dollars donated to its worthy cause, the Opera House once again stood for reputable entertainment. The exception this time being that it is available to all regardless of “class” or status. If one decides to take their family to Napa Valley they would be remiss not to include the Opera House as a part of it. The experience of the Opera House is one to share with all.

I would like to celebrate my engagement with my soon to be Fiance in Napa Valley… any recommendations?