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Guide to Rutherford Wineries in Napa Valley Jan 14

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Guide to Rutherford Wineries in Napa Valley

It has been argued that the wineries in Rutherford produce the best Cabernet Sauvignon in the entire state. The well drained soil in the region along with the warm temperatures in Rutherford certainly has made it an ideal location for growing this highly valued grape.

Whether or not the wineries in Rutherford truly are the best in the entire state when it comes to Cabernet Sauvignon may be a matter of personal opinion. If you are going to be in Napa Valley;however, you will certainly want to make a stop by at least a few of these acclaimed wineries to find out for yourself.

Cakebread Cellars – Although the region itself is known for Cabernet Sauvignon, Cakebread Cellars has earned a reputation based on Chardonnay. Jack Cakebread, owner and founder, has been producing quality wines for more than three decades.

Honig Vineyards – The first Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Sauvignon grapes of in Rutherford were planted in 1964 by Louis Honig. In the beginning, his grapes were sold to other wineries in Napa Valley; however, today he produces his own wines.

Sullivan Vineyards – Jim Sullivan, a former graphic designer, moved to Rutherford in 1972 and established Sullivan Vineyards. His first wine was produced in 1981 and he has been producing quality wines ever since.

Caymus Vineyards – This winery specializes in Cabernet Sauvignon grapes and produces two different wines from their Cabernet Sauvignon grapes.

Grgich Hills – Mike Grgich turned the wine scene upside down in 1976 when his 1973 Cheateau Montelena Chardonnay took the top prize at the Paris Wine Tasting for the white wine category. Grgich Hills was founded the following year and the wine industry in Napa Valley has never been the same.

Conn Creek Winery – Originally established in 1973, this winery received critical acclaim for their 1974 Eisele Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon. You will find the winery just off Rutherford Crossroad between Silverado Trail and Highway 29.

Quintessa – Quintessa has come to be known for wine that is truly excellent as well as expensive. More than 270 of the best acreage in Rutherford comprises Quintessa.

Peju Province – Located on the east side of Highway 29, Peju Province is a select winery that restricts their work to a very small group of retailers and distributors. If you wish to purchase Peju Province wine, the best way to do so is to visit their winery in Rutherford.

Pina Napa Valley – The Pina Family is an excellent example of the long tradition of wine making in Napa Valley. Pina Napa Valley was originally established in 1981; however, the Pina family is part of a winemaking heritage that extends back several decades to St. Helena.

Provenance Vineyards – The first Cabernet Sauvignon was released by this winery in 1999; however, the property on which the winery resides was originally owned by Thomas Rutherford during the 1800s.

Alpha Omega Winery – Travel down Highway 29 and you will find Alpha Omega winery. Founded by Eric Sklar and Robin Baggett, this winery is a fine example of how hobby winemaking can become a successful venture.

Tres Sabores – Also known as Three Tastes, this winery is located in the western hills of Rutherford. A Zinfandel based blend as well as a regular Zinfandel and a Cabernet Sauvignon are produced by Tres Sabores.

Raymond Vineyards – Originally established in 1971, Raymond Vineyards is a true family operation.

Hall Wines – Two different production facilities comprise Hall Wines. One is located in St. Helena and the other in Rutherford. If you would like to visit the tasting room in Rutherford, you will need to make an appointment; however, the one in St. Helena is open to the public.

Beaucanon Winery – Beaucanon was originally established in 1978 by Jacques de Conick from the Bordeaux region of France. His family has been in the business of making wine for more than 260 years.

Staglin Family Vineyards – This has become one of the most successful operations in the entire Valley and is certainly well worth a visit.

Rubicon Estate – If you are a fan of The Godfather movies, you are already familiar with the direction work of Francis Ford Coppola. Rubicon Estate, one of the most famous wineries in Napa Valley; however, is another example of Coppolas far ranging interests. The Rubicon, an acclaimed Cabernet Sauvignon blend, is his flagship wine.

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Introduction to the Regions of Napa Valley Jan 12

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Introduction to the Regions of Napa Valley

When you first decide to visit Napa Valley you may well find that the most difficult decision is which winery or wineries you want to visit. This is because there are literally hundreds of wineries in Napa Valley, scattered throughout a 35 mile area that can be broken down into several different regions within that area.

Napa Valley, located in Napa County, is just one of the many wine regions in the wine country of Northern California; however, it is certainly one of the most well known. In fact, Napa Valley is thought to be one of the most vital wine growing regions in the entire United States.

Some of the most well known wineries in Napa Valley include Chateau Montelena, Beringer and Charles Krug Winery; however, there are many, many other wineries located throughout Napa Valley as well. While wine production in Napa Valley did suffer during Prohibition; following World War II, the wine industry in Napa Valley began to experience an upsurge.

Today, Napa Valley is home to more than 200 wineries. While you might find it difficult to visit all of the wineries in Napa Valley you can certain visit many by taking one of the numerous wine tours that operate throughout Napa Valley. Through these wine tours you will gain an opportunity to view and taste the many different varietals that are produced in Napa Valley including Chardonnay, Zinfandel, merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and many more.

There are fifteen different regions within Napa Valley. Carneros is considered to be one of the best regions in Napa Valley and is home to numerous quality wineries. On the north end of Napa Valley, you will find Oak Knoll. Oak Knoll is considered to be quite versatile and was finally granted AVA status in 2004.

Coombsville, located to the east, is also occasionally referred to as Tulocay. This region has not yet been established as an AVA region; however, you will still find numerous excellent wineries in this region.

Most of the wineries in Napa Valley are located on Highway 29; however, there are a number that are located just off Highway 29. The Yountville AVA is one of those areas. In the past twenty years this region has changed significantly.In this region you will find that the wineries are somewhat warmer. Slightly north to the region, the Yountville Mounts are situated, which help to block the fog coming in from San Pablo Bay as well as the wind.

Rutherford, Oakville and St. Helena, three of the most well known wine regions in Napa Valley, are located quite close to one another. The wineries in these regions have become well known for producing high quality Cabernet Sauvignon.

A row of hills running north to south separates the Napa Valley floor from the Stags Leap AVA region. Due to the fact that these hills tend to act as a sort of funnel for wind, the Stags Leap region can be somewhat cool and breezy; even when other areas in Napa Valley are warm.

Atlas Peak is situated high in the hills. This area was once home to many Sanviovese vineyards; however, today many of the wineries in this region are focusing on Cabernet Sauvignon.

Historically, the Mount Veeder AVA has been considered to be one of the best in the area. This is because they have typically produced grapes that are high-quality as well as scarce. On the mountain slopes in the area, Syrah, Zinfandel and Cabernet Sauvignon are commonly planted.

Diamond Mountain as well as Spring Mountain are situated in the north. The wineries in this region are known for a specific type of Cabernet Sauvignon that tends to be produced in very small quantities.

In the northeastern hills, you will find Howell Mountain. A number of well known wineries are located in this area and tend to do quite well because of the sunny weather.

Chiles Valley is one of the premier Zinfandel regions in the state of California. The isolation of this AVA region has allowed this vineyard to survive the problems that have historically destroyed many other vineyards.

One of the most recent additions to Napa Valley is Wild Horse Valley. This region is situated in the southeastern hills. The windy, cool climate is perfect for producing Chardonnay as well as Pinot Noir.

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Introduction and History of the Oakville Wine Region in Napa Valley Jan 10

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Introduction and History of the Oakville Wine Region in Napa Valley

The Oakville region has become associated with quality wine in the last several years. Situated in the heart of the wine industry in Napa Valley, there are some 5,000 acres of vineyards stretching throughout this region. This is one of the most popular regions with tourists in Napa Valley.

This region, in particular, has become well known and recognized for quality production of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. Some of the most widely regarded wineries in the region include Rudd Winery, Dalla Valle, Opus One, Screaming Eagle and Silver Oak Winery.

It is believed that one of the reasons this region has been so successful at producing highly sought after wines is due to the warm climate and its location north of the Yountville Mounts. Most of the wind as well as the fog from San Pablo Bay is blocked; providing quite a bit of protection to the area. As a result, the regions grapes are given sufficient time to ripen as well as to develop the characteristics for which wines from this region have become known.

The distinct and decidedly different terrains in this region have also lent to its success. Due to the distinct terrains in this region, a variety of different grapes are able to thrive. Just a few of the varieties that are commonly planted in this region include Zinfandel, Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. On the valley floor, Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay are also very common.

The history of wine production in Oakville is long and distinguished. The first vineyards in this region were planted by Hamilton Walker Crabb. 240 acres of land were purchased by Crabb in 1868. The Kalon Vineyard was soon established. Forty years later, there were more than 400 acres of vineyards in the region.

When phylloxera struck the area during the 1880s Crabb proved to be quite proactive. In fact, he was one of the very few winemakers in the region to convert his vineyards to rootstocks that were phylloxera resistant. Most of the remainder of the industry in the area was subsequently destroyed by this rather aggressive pest.

Those that remained were struck by Prohibition. Most of the vineyards in the area during this time were either neglected or completely destroyed due to the lack of demand as a result of Prohibition. There were a few vineyards that remained and were planted with specific varieties that could make it through being shipped to the East Coast for home winemaking purposes.

During this time large tracts of land that had previously been planted with some of the most noble varietals in the region were completely uprooted and replaced with prune orchards; the main agricultural crop of Napa Valley for several decades.

Following the repeal of Prohibition, it took a number of yeas before the Oakville wine region recovered. Eventually, things begin to change in the 1950s when most of the old Crabb estate was purchased by Cesare Mondavi. The old Kalon Vineyard was included in the purchase. Before long, Mondavi began to produce some wine from the quality grapes growing at the To Kalon.

During the 1960s, Heitz Cellars went into production of Marthas Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon; a wine that would become critically acclaimed. At the same time, the wine renaissance of Napa Valley began to pick up Steam. Robert Mondavi separated from the family winery at Charles Krug and went into production in Oakville; further solidifying Oakvilles place as a premier wine region.

It has been said that Mondavi has contributed more to the development of the Napa Valley wine industry as a whole than anyone else. After splitting away from his family, he set about establishing a completely innovative winery in Oakville.

His winery was built literally from the ground up and included in his vision the establishment of a tasting room that would welcome visitors as well as tours of the behind the scenes winemaking process. As a result of his vision, the wine industry in Oakville; as well as Napa Valley has never been the same.

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