Los Carneros AVA

Los Carneros is a single AVA that spans the southern part of Napa and Sonoma.  Sitting on the Northern edge of San Pablo Bay, this region is cooler than the valleys to its north and is the perfect place to grow grapes for sparkling wines.  While you will find other varieties grown here, overwhelmingly vineyards in this region are planted to Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.

Wild Horse Valley AVA

This AVA is in the southeast corner of Napa Valley and spans into Solano County.  It is cooler in climate (it’s south near San Pablo Bay) and is known for Pinot Noir.

Coombsville AVA

Located in the foothills of the Vaca Mountains on the eastern side of the Napa Valley, this cool-climate AVA is just east of the city of Napa.

Oak Knoll District AVA

This valley floor AVA is just north of the city of Napa and spans east-west from the Mayacama foothills to the Vaca foothills on Silverado Trail.  The AVA is cooler (near San Pablo Bay) and has a long growing season.  Each morning, the vineyards are ensconced in the fog drifting up the valley from San Pablo Bay.  You’ll find more white grapes in this region.

Mount Veeder AVA

The Mount Veeder AVA is on the slopes of the Mayacama Range on the Western side of the valley.  Because the vines are on the east-facing slopes, they get sun in the morning and avoid the hot afternoon sun.  Vineyards sit above the fogline, so days are cooler and nights are warmer.  Elevations run from 500 to 2,600 feet above sea level.

Yountville AVA

Surrounding the town of Yountville, this AVA is famous for its restaurants and resorts.  It’s where you find the renowned French Laundry restaurant, and I can’t visit Napa without coffee and a pastry from Bouchon Bakery.  The town is perfect for taking a break and strolling around and has fantastic public artwork.  Oh yes, there are vineyards, too.  These are valley-floor vineyards that only get to 200 feet above sea level.  You will find plenty of Cabs here.

Stags Leap District AVA

The Stags Leap AVA sits on the Silverado Trail in the Vaca Mountain foothills.  The region is famous for its Cabernet Sauvignons, which topped the red wines in the 1976 Judgement of Paris.  The area benefits from fog from San Pablo Bay as well as breezes that keep the vines healthy.  The hillsides are rocky and reflect the afternoon heat onto the vines.  This all allows the vines to ripen slowly in an extended growing season

Atlas Peak AVA

This higher elevation AVA sits on the east side of the valley on the Vaca Mountains.  It is cooler due to its proximity to the San Paolo Bay.

Oakville AVA

This valley floor AVA is home to the famous To Kalon Vineyard and Harlan.  While these vineyards are on the valley floor, the temperatures here are moderated by the fact that they are still not too far from San Pablo Bay, and the vineyards on the western side are shaded in the afternoon by the Mayacama Mountains.  This is where you will find Mondavi and Opus One.

We have also enjoyed some delicious Chardonnay from Groth Estate in this AVA.

Rutherford AVA

Another valley floor AVA, but we are moving further north, so the influence of the San Pablo Bay is lessening.  Less fog means more sun, and the fruit here tends to have softer tannins.  You will find many famous wineries here, including St. Supéry, Inglenook, Beaulieu, Rutherford Hill, and, of course, Grgich Hills, founded by Mike Grgich, who made the white wine that took the top prize at the 1976 Judgement of Paris.

St. Helena AVA

St. Helena is a gorgeous little town, perfect for lunch or a bit of shopping.  My favorite thing about St. Helena’s is Gott’s Roadside.  Joel Gott opened this roadside burger stand with his brother Duncan in 1999.  The food is fast but good, sourced locally, and made with a modern spin.   https://www.gotts.com/about/

On our first visit to the valley, I asked for a lunch recommendation while tasting at Grgich Hill.  She told me to buy a split of wine and then take it with me to enjoy with lunch outside at Gott’s.  It’s an experience and a meal I won’t forget.  It pulls all the pretentiousness out of Napa.

Okay, back to wines.  This is another Valley Floor AVA, that only rarely sees morning fog.  Vineyard altitudes sit from 400 to 800 feet, and the soils are volcanic.  You mostly find Cab and Chard here.

Duckhorn, famous for Merlot has their tasting room and one of their vineyards in this AVA.

Chiles Valley AVA

Chiles Valley is an AVA in the Vaca Mountains.  It sits on the range’s eastern side, so it’s not actually in “Napa Valley.”  It sits between 600 and 1,200 feet in marine soils.  It is a long, skinny valley that sometimes traps heat but also sees strong winds.  You’ll find big reds planted here.

Howell Mountain AVA

Howell Mountain AVA sits east of Calistoga and St. Helena and west of Chiles Valley.  “Mountain” is important in its name as elevations here are from 1,400 to 2,600 feet above sea level, and it is a bit of a plateau.  The southern boundary, set at 1,400 feet, was due to where the fog crested.  So, these vines sit above the fog layer and it is warmer than the surrounding AVAs.

Spring Mountain District AVA

Located on the West side of the valley on the slopes of the Mayacamas Mountains, this AVA is just 30 miles from the Pacific.  Elevations widely range from 400 to 2,600 feet.  This area of the mountain is deeply forested and craggy, so vineyards are small and pocketed.  Sitting on the east-facing slope, the vineyards are cooler, enjoying the morning sun while sheltered from the afternoon heat.  With its coastal influence and altitude, it is the coolest of the AVAs in the valley and also the wettest.

Diamond Mountain AVA

Sitting just north of the Spring Mountain District, the Diamond Mountain District AVA sits between 400 and 2,200 feet in elevation, again on the eastern slopes of the Mayacamas Mountain Range.  Diamond Creek River runs through the region, bringing cool air that moderates late-season heat, extending the growing season.  Cab is king here.

Calistoga AVA

This is the most northern AVA in Napa Valley, with the town of Calistoga sitting midway through the region.  Again, this is a town I like to wax on.  Unpretentious, this a great place to grab breakfast at the local diner.  Or stay here in one of the quaint hotels built on the local hot springs.

I said this was the northernmost AVA, which also makes it the hottest.  It is the furthest from the influences of San Pablo Bay.  So here you find big, rich reds being grown.

Sterling Vineyards is here.  You take a gondola to reach their hilltop winery and tasting room.  It’s a fun way to spend a day, and you can choose from a self-guided tour to a fancy sit-down tasting.

We recently visited Tamber Bey, a winery north of the city of Calistoga, where they also have a horse ranch.

The region is also home to Château Montelena, whose Chardonnay took top honors at the 1976 Judgement of Paris tasting and was immortalized in the film BottleShock.