Napa Valley

Buy Napa Valley wine

Perhaps one of the most prominent wine regions in the United States: Napa Valley. It is, in any case, the most important wine region in the country. Just an hour's drive from San Francisco, Napa Valley is known for its large estates and picturesque towns, home to more than 400 wineries.

Quality wines from Napa Valley

Napa Valley's wine history has had its ups and downs. It all began in 1838, when George Yount planted his first vines in Napa Valley. But in the early 20th century, the region was ravaged by the phylloxera epidemic. The vineyards were uprooted and had to be completely replanted. On top of that, Prohibition came in the 1920s, which meant that wine production was no longer permitted. But in 1976, things changed. During the "Judgement of Paris," Napa Valley wines were blind-tasted, and it turned out they were on par with French quality wines. Since then, they have been recognized worldwide, and their success has continued to grow.

The perfect wine growing conditions in Napa Valley

Thanks to its location near the bay, the soil in the south of Napa Valley consists of fertile clay and loam. In the north, the terroir consists primarily of gravel and loam and is much less fertile. The bay to the south provides cooling air for the vineyards. This allows the daytime warmth to grow the grapes, while the cooling ensures their gradual ripening. A perfect climate for viticulture. When wine lovers think of Napa Valley, they immediately think of high-quality Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay. But the climate creates ideal conditions for a wide variety of grape varieties, such as Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier, and Riesling for white wines, and Merlot, Pinot Noir, and Zinfandel for reds.

King of Napa Valley

Cabernet Sauvignon is called the king of Napa. Half of the vineyards are planted with this international grape. This grape is often vinified into rich wines with notes of fruit, cocoa, and leather. The historic Beaulieu Vineyard carefully harvests the Cabernet Sauvignon grapes from this region. Quality is paramount. The final juice is aged for 15 months in oak barrels. The result is a deep and intense Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley.

California Chardonnay

The California Chardonnay demonstrates that the style of Chardonnay from this region can offer something quite different than what we're used to. Malolactic fermentation and the use of oak create buttery and creamy flavors. A great deal of experimentation is paramount, and this is also true with the Chardonnay. The pleasure lies in tasting the different options from various Napa Valley wineries. We highly recommend the Hess Napa Chardonnay. The grapes are hand-harvested, pressed, and fermented. Then, 80 percent of the wine undergoes a second malolactic fermentation and is aged on the lees for ten months. When the wines are finally blended, a powerful, characteristic Chardonnay aroma emerges, along with an excellent flavor.