Napa Valley
In 1976, Napa beat France blind. Nobody has relaxed since.
Tours & tastings in Napa Valley
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What Napa Valley teaches: ambition
At the 1976 Judgment of Paris, French judges blind-tasted Napa Cabernet against the great Bordeaux châteaux, and Napa won. The valley has been chasing, and often hitting, that standard ever since. Napa teaches what winemaking ambition looks like: ripeness, polish, and the confidence to charge for it.
The wines
Cabernet Sauvignon of power and consistency, from valley-floor opulence to structured mountain fruit, plus Chardonnay that ranges from oaky classic to taut and modern.
Where to go
Stag's Leap Wine Cellars poured the Cabernet that won Paris; the tasting room looks over the very block. Robert Mondavi's mission-style winery in Oakville is where modern Napa began. Inglenook, restored by Francis Ford Coppola, is the valley's history lesson with a courtyard. Book everything ahead; Napa runs on appointments.
Eat
Oxbow Public Market in Napa town covers lunch. Yountville is the fine-dining capital: Bouchon for bistro classics, The French Laundry if the booking gods smile and the budget allows.
Getting there
Ninety minutes north of San Francisco. Go midweek; weekends belong to the limousines.
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What is Napa Valley famous for?
Cabernet Sauvignon, rich and ripe, the wine that put California on the world stage.
What does Napa teach about wine?
Ambition. What happens when a region sets out to beat the established best, and does.
When should I visit Napa Valley?
Harvest, late August to October, is the spectacle. Spring is quieter and greener.
