Napa Valley has many different soils and climates

Napa Valley and its variety

The Napa Valley is famous everywhere for the quality of its Napa Valley wines. The valley is a long, smooth curve, two to four miles wide, that runs from the foot of Mount St. Helena (not to be confused with the volcano) to San Pablo Bay. At the northern end of the valley is Calistoga, 348 feet above sea level, and the geyser called “Old Faithful of California.” Here the soil is rich and volcanic. At the southern end is the port of Vallejo and the marshland where the river meets the bay at sea level. Here the soil is more sedimentary. In the center of the valley is the Rutherford Bench, which is also sedimentary but better drained than the lower parts of the valley. Some of the tributaries to the Napa River, like the Conn River, have their own small valleys. Napa Valley wineries benefit from a great range of soil and microclimates, lending each one a different terroir. Wine from grapes grown on the valley floor has a heavier feel. Mountain grapes grow in less fertile soil, which produces less numerous but more flavorful grapes.

Excellent Napa Valley wines from a St. Helena winery

Some of the best California wines come from Anderson’s Conn Valley Vineyards in NapaValley. The vineyard is a 40-acre estate just south of Howell Mountain. The microclimate of Conn Valley is cooler than many other parts of the valley, so the grapes they grow are closer to mountain grapes. Try some of their wines today.