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.
Wine In Napa Valley
California is a state that simply must be visited at least once in a lifetime. Whether you choose to travel alone or as a family, California is full of things to see and do. If you're a newly wed, planning a honeymoon, or just a romantic at heart, California is calling you. If you're looking for movie stars, go to Hollywood or Beverly Hills. If you're looking for a relaxing vacation, beautiful scenery and some sweet spirits, then wind your way around to Wine Country. Recreational places like the wineries in Napa Valley and Sonoma are waiting for you.
Napa Valley and Sonoma County in Northern California is only an hour's drive from San Francisco. Otherwise known as Wine Country, Napa Valley and Sonoma County are popular among newlyweds, honeymooners, wine enthusiasts, gourmets and other hopeless romantics who wish to enjoy all the good things in life. There are so many exquisite places to stay and visit in California's Wine Country, the choices are overwhelming, but well worth your time.
Napa Valley, which actually consists of six towns, including: St. Helena, Oakville, Calistoga, Rutherford, Yountville and Napa. Each of these towns feature their own first class wineries, spas, resorts, hotels and restaurants, not to mention the breath taking scenery of the Wine Country itself. The experience of the California Wine Country will rejuvenate your being and will create wonderful memories to last a lifetime.
Sonoma County is the birthplace of the California wine industry. Sonoma Valley is 17 miles long and sits between two glorious mountain ranges, where numerous wineries host tasting events and tours on a daily basis. The Plaza is encircled with boutiques, adobe structures and restaurants in Sonoma's town square. For over a century, the hot springs have drawn thousands of health conscious guests to the area and even today, is host to a number of world class spas and resorts.
Some of the smaller, family owned wineries will give tours by appointment only. It would be best to call and set up the appointment well in advance of your visit to Wine Country, so you are sure to get in. This can be a very rewarding experience, because this will give to time to have a one on one conversation with the wine makers themselves without being caught up in a group of tourists. Many of the large and small family owned wineries make themselves available for outdoor weddings and other special occasions for additional costs. Most only offer wine tasting, tours of their wineries, and host other special events.
If you are planning to visit California's Wine Country, try to make your visit in the middle of the week, because the weekends are often over crowded and that can make traveling and sightseeing fairly difficult and thus less enjoyable. During the week, there is less traffic to deal with and some of the hotels can have lower rates. It's always best to call ahead to the hotels to make sure there is room available for you when you arrive. If you decide to use Silverado Trail as your driving route, you will encounter less traffic and have a more scenic route to enjoy. The scenery is one of the best parts of visiting Wine Country, so stop and smell the roses as often as possible.
If you are looking for a picnic area with a great view, try visiting Rutherford Hill Winery's picnic area. If you choose to use a picnic area belonging to a specific winery, you may choose to buy a bottle of wine from them as a courtesy, for you to enjoy with your picnic meal. A delicious addition to your picnic basket would be a selection of fruits, cheeses and baked goods from the Sunshine Market in St. Helena. You can also pick up your plates, napkins and utensils for your picnic while you're there.
Gordon's on Yountville is famous for their tasty coffee, which is a delicious addition to breakfast. For a scrumptious lunch or dinner, try eating at the French Laundry. There is a wide variety of fine restaurants in Wine Country from which to pick and choose, even if you don't have a reservation, you have a good chance at getting in.
Both Kris Koonar & Gregg Hall are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Gregg Hall has sinced written about articles on various topics from Lingerie, Desserts and Mortgage. Gregg Hall is a business consultant and author for many online and offline businesses and lives in Navarre Florida with his 16 year old son. For and acces. Gregg Hall's top article generates over 3350000 views. to your Favourites.
