One of the most extraordinary places in the world, Napa Valley is synonymous with some of the world’s finest wines. This small area is the epicentre of California wine making and is making some of the best in the world. But why is that exactly?
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Perhaps you’ve heard of or even tasted wines from Napa Valley? Hollywood films about wine country experiences including Sideways, Wine Country and Bottleshock all tell stories of these famous areas. They are also a wonderful way to travel from the comfort of your own home.
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Paris 1976
Napa Valley was made famous at the infamous ‘Judgement of Paris’ in 1976. It was a tasting that forever changed wine and brought Napa Valley wine to the world. The tasting was the brainchild of British wine merchant Steven Spurrier, who sadly passed away just this past March 2021 at the age of 79 and who had made great contributions to the wine industry.
The Showdown
At the Judgement of Paris there were nine judges, all of them were French. It was a competition between the iconic wines from France and wines from California. It was this tasting that changed history for wines of the new world. Up against the best of France, two Napa Valley wines won the competition, truly putting Napa Valley on the global wine map. The competition had a David versus Goliath flare and ever since then, Napa Valley wines have proven their exceptional place in the world of wine, time and time again.
The Judgment of Paris has been replicated many times after 1976, some of these by Spurrier himself, and with remarkably similar results. Napa Valley still continues to reign as one of the world’s leading wine regions even decades after this original competition.
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Napa Valley’s history boasts more than 150 years of tradition with grapes first planted in 1838-39 and the first commercial winery founded in 1861. Vineyards in Napa can be found from sea level all the way to about 2,400 feet. There are vineyards and wineries on top of mountains with rare volcanic soil underneath. Fresh ocean air runs through the vines keeping the grapes cool and giving sophistication and elegance to the wines.
NAPA VALLEY FAST FACTS
- Napa Valley is a very small wine region that is segregated into 16 even smaller approved American Viticultural Areas
- Each AVA has different soils and microclimates. It is here that you can find half of the world’s 12 recognized soils!
- The valley floor is 30 miles long and just 5 miles across at its widest point
- Stunningly beautiful, Napa Valley produces a mere 4% of all the wine coming from California.
- Napa is blessed with a rare and dry Mediterranean climate, which covers only 2% of the Earth’s surface making it exceptionally unique.
- The diverse and volcanic soils in the area combined with an idyllic climate, make Napa Valley perfectly suited for producing a wide variety of consistent, high quality wines.
- More than 65% of Napa County vineyard land is enrolled or certified in the Napa Green Land program, which is one of only four sustainable winegrowing programs nationwide focusing on soil-to-bottle certification in both the vineyard and winery. Napa Green provides a pathway for growers to improve soil health, become carbon neutral to negative within six to nine years, and increase the resilience of vineyards, businesses, and the Napa Valley community
- Overall, Napa Valley Vintners have invested more than $200 million in local health and children’s education nonprofits and is a region who truly puts every angle of sustainability first to learn more visit the Napa Valley Vintners website
If you’re looking to add Napa to your bucket list of places to travel (and really who isn’t?) make sure to take your time to relax and soak it all in. It’s a heavenly place you’ll never want to leave with hundreds of wineries and restaurants to visit and fun excursions like hot air balloon rides and spas to indulge in. To learn more visit the Napa Valley tourism website
Looking for the perfect wine for your cellar, or for wines to accompany a special dinner? Considering a gift for someone who truly appreciates quality and elegance in wine? Napa Valley wines are truly the perfect choice.
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Buy these very limited offerings available September 30 before they’re sold out on vintagesshoponline.com
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