To the first inhabitants of the valley, 'the Wappo Indians', the term 'Napa' meant the land of many, conjuring images of a vast sprawling land that was home to salmon-filled waterways, green valley floors with multitudes of wildcats, black bears, grizzlies and elks. George Calvert Yount was the first to establish a local homestead with vineyards in what is now known as Yountville. Some of the other early pioneers would include John Patchett, Hamilton Walker Crabb and Dr, George Crane.

Charles Krug can be called the founder of Napa Valley, as he was responsible for developing the first commercial winery of the region in 1861. Wineries like Schramsberg, Beringer and Inglenook, now the best, most popular and oldest wineries of the region were all in place along with 140 other wineries by the year 1889. This is when the worst happened to the vineyards. Phylloxera, an epidemic hit the vineyards, destroying most of the crops in the Valley. This was just one of the hurdles that the wineries of today had to deal with.

By 1919, the Napa Valley had another enemy, that in the form of 'Prohibition'. Most of the vineyards and wineries had to close down, except for those, which were producing holy wines used by the Churches. This act of Prohibition lasted for more than 14 years and later during the time of the world war II these vintners of the Valley laid the foundation of the Napa Valley Vintners an organization formed to improve the quality of wine and to promote all things related to wine.

The 1950s and 1960s saw the growth and recognition of the Napa Valley is social circles where wine was most consumed and most talked about. This decade or two saw the birth of a new generation of winemakers and vintners. The 1970s brought with them a whole plethora of wine making innovations and creativity that enabled the Valley wines to win an international Wine Tasting competition in Paris which literally put Napa Valley and its cabernets at par with French Bordeaux. The Napa Valley organization has not only ensured that great wine is produced but it has also helped in creating leaders that help the winemaking industry in California the best it is today.

In 1968, the Agriculture preserve ordinance was formed and has helped in ensuring the well being of locals, vintners and the development of the Napa Valley by organizing Auctions and raising millions of dollars. The year 1982 was a historical year for Valley when it was designated the much-recognized American Vitcultural Area. Napa Valley has been recognized as a place of multifaceted topography, assorted bedrock, surficial geology and a place having large varieties of soil that make Valley perfect for growing and making wines, and makes it one of the most popular wine regions of the world.

Home to over 300 wineries, Napa Valley has been recognized as a leading wine producing region all over the world. From the Zinfandel to the Cabernets, if you are a wine enthusiast Valley is probably the place for you. You can go on wine tours where you can get to visit the oldest and most enchanting wineries of the region and also of the world. Now, the Valley attracts millions of tourists and wine aficionados from all over the world where as in the years gone by, it was just a sprawling space inhabited by the Wappo Indian tribe.