Introduction To The Yountville Wine Region In Napa Valley

If you are planning a stay in Napa Valley, you may wish to make your accommodations in Yountville. You will find a number of luxurious options in Yountville as well as a variety of boutique shopping options. As a result, this is one of the most popular regions in Napa Valley among tourists.

Most of the wineries in this region have developed right along with the town. If you had visited the region twenty years ago, you would have found only a handful of wineries. In the last few years a number of changes have come to this part of Napa Valley. As a result, this area has also experienced tremendous development.

The climate of this area tends to be somewhat moderate and breezy. You will find when visiting this region that the evenings are far cooler than many of the other regions that are actually located more to the north. Cabernet Sauvignon grapes tend to thrive in this region while Zinfandel, Merlot and Syrah grapes are also planted as well. The consistent terrain of Yountville makes this one of the premier wine growing regions in the area. The growing season in this region tends to be somewhat long with mornings that are foggy and clear afternoons. As a result of the warm summer days and cooler afternoons, this area specializes quite well in Syrah, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Petite Verdot. Other varieties that are also substantially planted include Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blanc.

The terrain in this region has also had a contribution to the region as well. Within this region there are deposits of debris and geological material that cannot be found at any other region within Napa Valley. The Yountville Mounts located north of town provide protection from the fog and the wind of San Pablo Bay. This protection has allowed some of the most highly acclaimed vineyards in the region to develop.

The history of this region as a wine growing area can be traced back more than 150 years. George Calvert Yount was granted 11,000 acres in 1836. This became the Caymus Rancho. A large portion of the Valley Floor between St. Helena and Yountville was included in the grant. Eventually Yount made improvements on the land and was the first to actually plant vineyards in the Napa Valley. The land where these vineyards were planted is now owned by Dominus Estate. A portion of Yount’s land was sold to Charles Hopper in 1850. A town was laid out on the property several years later. Originally, this town was known as Sebastopol; however, a town in nearby Sonoma County had already laid claim to this name. As a result, the town was renamed Yountville in 1867 after George Yount’s death.

A distillation facility and large winery were constructed by Gottlieb Groezinger in 1870. Vintage 1870 now encompasses this property. When in the region you will find a number of high-end restaurants as well as shops here.

While expansive activity had be]en going on in the region for a number of years, the town of Yountville was not incorporated until 1965. In 1999, the area was granted AVA status.

Some of the most well known wineries in the region include Dominus Estate, Gemstone Vineyard, Chanticleer, Jessup Cellars, Domaine Chandon, Goosecross Cellars and Parador Cellars.