An Introduction to Napa Valley

The wineries of Napa Valley California are among the most known among wine lovers all over the world. For some, a visit to this region is a lifelong dream vacation due to it's pleasant climate and beautiful scenery.

Located in Northern California, Napa Valley contains both the soil and the climate that is considered one of the best in the world for growing wine grapes. As one of the premier wine producing regions in the United States, Napa Valley is home to a number of different wines through it's wineries; among them include the Chandon, Caymus and Frank Family.

Napa Valley receives millions of visitors each year that tour it's productive wineries. Napa Valley has also become one of the premier attractions in the state of California. During a trip to the Napa Valley, visitors will have the experience of enjoying breathtaking vistas, numerous culinary pleasures and a source of inspiration for those who make wine as a hobby.

Even though this region has been historically strong, the fertile and beautiful Napa Valley has had it's share of times where it almost ceased to exist in terms of wine production. Beginning in 1920 and ending in 1933, Prohibition became the law of the land. Around the same time, phylloxera, a root louse, destroyed numerous vines that produced the wine which resulted in the closing of several wineries. However, Napa Valley wineries reopened again after World War II and the region became popular again.

The popularity of the Napa Valley region grew even more when the region's Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay were deemed to be better than the fine French labels in the Paris Wine Tasting in 1976. The region is continuing to grow and expand to this day and is now home to hundreds of wineries. The Napa Valley is now home to some of the world's best wineries.

Wine tours of the Napa Valley run from morning until evening. Visitors will not only have the opportunity to enjoy a wide variety of fine wines, they will also have the chance to view the entire wine making process; from beginning to end. Many of the wineries also provide high quality wines at a discount in addition to their tours.

Despite the fact that there are hundreds of wineries in the Napa Valley, the valley itself is a condensed 35 miles long. However, this gives it an added convenience to the visitor because they can easily travel from one end of it to another in a relatively short amount of time. The drive of the entire distance of the valley only takes a half hour long with traffic permitting. The main route for these wineries is formed by Highway 29. On this route, you can also find not only the larger wineries, but shops, hotels and restaurants as well. Highway 29 begins quite close to the end of San Francisco Bay at the mouth of the Napa River. Every winery can be reached along Napa Valley when traveling along this highway.

Do you have an interest in wine and thinking about your next getaway? You might want to try the beautiful and fertile Napa Valley for your next vacation.