Although it is the most renowned winegrowing region in the U S A, Napa Valley, a mere 14 per cent the size of Bordeaux, produces only four per cent of the wine made in California, which, if it were a country, would rank sixth largest wine producer in the world.
Although only four per cent of wine is produced in the state, Napa Valley wine sales generate 40 per cent of the economic impact of California’s wine industry on the total American economy.
While it may appear to the casual observer that Napa County is bursting with vines, only nine per cent of the county is planted in vineyards. Forty years ago, landowners realized the location of their county, a mere 100 km. from San Francisco, all but guaranteed urban development and growth pressures. Given the fact that the average American likes to drive and does not mind commuting, much of Napa Valley could have become paved over and covered with lavish homes and strip malls.
In 1968, Napa valley vintners, growers and community leaders had the forethought to preserve open space and prevent future unabashed development by enacting the first Agricultural Preserve of America.
Throughout wine connoisseurs Napa Valley is synonymous with California’s best wine producing region. Who has not heard of Napa Valley? But knowing the name and appreciating the wines of this incomparable valley are two entirely different things.
Napa Valley has been producing wine for more than a century, but it was the legendary Robert Mondavi who put the region on the map. He promoted his beloved Valley throughout his business life, built his world famous winery here, and travelled the world to promote it – first the county and then his wines.
The valley is approximately 50 Km. Log and two to six Km. Wide. The south, Carneros, is cooler because of the climatic effect of the San Pablo Bay. Here chardonnay and pinot noir yield fine, delicate wines, whereas further north starting in Oakville the weather get warm and cabernet sauvignon, syrah, cabernet franc and merlot among others thrive.
Napa Valley is home to some of the best and most famous American wineries i.e R. Mondavi, Cuvaison, Heitz, Schrambsberg, Moet et Chandon Sparkling Wines, Stag’s Leap Winery, Pahlmeyer, Oakville Ranch, Silver Oak, Opus One, Darioush, Far Niente, Shafer, Cakebread, Markham, Beringer, Rubicon, Duckhorn, and Grgich Hill Estate just to name a few.
The Valley has almost 140 soil types, conveniently divided into three groups Carneros and south Napa, marine clays, western side; Mayamas Range sedimentary loam and alluvial; eastern side/Vaca Range volcanic loams and clays.
Although Napa Valley produces a small proportion of California wines, and sells a very high percentage of it, winery owners/managers never stop promoting their wines.
Advertising and promotion is engrained into the psyche of American business, and because of this belief, often the Association of Napa Valley winery organizes tastings in important markets, one being Ontario more specifically Toronto.
This year approximately 50 Napa Valley wineries poured their best in ROM (Royal Ontario Museum).
Here is a list of the wines that I found to be outstanding. Due to space constraints I cannot provide detailed descriptions, but guarantee their impeccable texture, flavour, balance, bouquet, and extraordinary finish.

White wines:

Chardonnay, 2007, Cuvaison, Los Carneros
Chardonnay, 2006, Grgich Hill Estate
Chardonnay, 2007, Heitz
Chardonnay, 2007, Pine Ridge
Chardonnay, 2007, Oakville Ranch
Reserve Chardonnay 2005, Sterling

Sparkling wine

Blanc de Noir, 2006, Schramsberg

Red Wines:

Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, 2004, Sterling
Cabernet Sauvignon, 2005, Pahlmeyer
Cabernet Sauvignon, 2005, Heitz
Cabernet Sauvignon Trailside Vineyard, 1999, Heitz
Cabernet Sauvignon, 2005, Grgich Hill Estate
Cabernet Sauvignon, 2005, Hestan
Cabernet Sauvignon, 2006. Darioush
Cabernet Sauvignon Caravan, 2006, Darioush
Cabernet Sauvignon, 2006, Pritchard Hill
Cabernet Sauvignon, 2006, Stag’s Leap Winery
Cabernet Sauvignon, 2005, Clos du val
Barrouge Bordeaux Bland, 2005, Barlow Vineyards
Robert’s Blend, 2005, Oakville Ranch
Pinot Noir, 2007, Cuvaison
Merlot, 2006, Grgich Hill Estate
Zinfandel, 2996, Grgich Hill estate
Syrah, 2006, Peju

For more information log on to www.napavintners.com

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Tags: EXCELLENT, Napa Valley, TASTING, Wine

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