Calistoga Viticultural Area

AVA: Calistoga | Region: North Coast | AVA Area:5,000 | AVA planted: 500

Calistoga AVA is an American Viticultural Area located in the northern portion of California's Napa Valley AVA. The Calistoga AVA is home to the City of Calistoga. The Appellation is partly surrounded by the Mayacama Mountain Range on the west, Knights Valley roughly to its north and Mt. St. Helena, the highest peak in the Napa Valley. The appellation is distinguished by its volcanic soil, high temperatures up to 100 ºF during the day, and cool nights during the growing season due to breezes from the Russian River, causing the highest diurnal temperature variation in the Napa Valley—up to 50 ºF

Chilles Valley Viticultural Area

AVA: Chilles Valley | Region: North Coast | AVA Area: 6,000 | AVA planted: 1000

The Chiles Valley AVA is an American Viticultural Area located within eastern portion of Napa Valley's AVA, within the Vaca Mountain Range. The Chiles Valley is 6,000 acres, of which 1,000 acres is planted. The Chiles Valley was established in 1999 as an American Viticultural Area.

The Chiles Valley is a warmer climate compared to other parts of the Napa Valley; this is due to the location of the Chiles Valley being located so far inland. The appellation has a warmer and more continental climate than other portions of Napa Valley. The cooling fog and winds that moderate temperatures in other parts of Napa Valley have difficulty reaching as far inland as Chiles Valley.

Diamond Mountain Viticultural Area

AVA: Diamond Mountain District | Region: North Coast | AVA Area:5,000 | AVA planted: 500

The Diamond Mountain District AVA is an American Viticultural Area located in Mayacamas Mountain Range in the northeast portion of the Napa Valley. The Diamond Mountain AVA was established as an American Viticultural area in 2001. The Diamond Mountain AVA is 5,000 acres, of which 500 acres are planted vineyard.

Most of Diamond Mountain and its peak lay on the Sonoma County side. The Diamond Mountain appellation sits at an elevation of approximately 2,300 feet, higher than most other Appellations in Napa and Sonoma. This elevation increases a more direct sunlight exposure and less influence on fog that makes its way up the Napa Valley from San Pablo Bay. The soils of the Diamond Mountain District are volcanic and porous, which naturally cool the ground and help fight against the long sunny days in this appellation.

Howell Mountain Viticultural Area

AVA: Howell Mountain | Region: North Coast | AVA Area: 14,000 | AVA planted: 600

The Howell Mountain AVA is an American Viticultural Area located in the Vaca Mountains on the northeast side of Napa Valley. The Howell Mountain AVA is located east of the St. Helena American Viticultural Area of Napa Valley. Howell Mountain AVA is 14,00 acres, of which 600 acres are planted vineyard. The Howell Mountain AVA was established in 1983.

The elevation of the Howell Mountain AVA is approximately 2,200 feet, most of the vineyard planting takes place at the 1,400 to 2,200 foot elevation. Like the Diamond Mountain District, the Howell Mountain AVA is well above the fog that makes it's way up the Napa Valley floor via the San Pablo Bay. The Howell Mountain receives a lot of sun throughout the day, but it's elevations helps it stay cooler than the Napa Valley floor.

The soil of the Howell Mountain AVA is volcanic with excellent drainage.

Mount Veeder Viticultural Area

AVA: Mount Veeder| Region: North Coast | AVA Area: 15,000 | AVA planted: 1000

Mount Veeder AVA is an American Viticultural Area located within Napa Valley AVA among the Mayacamas Mountains. Mount Veeder is approximately 15,000 acres, of which 1,000 acres are planted vineyard on thin volcanic soil. The Mount Veeder AVA is a very steep terrain; this terrain gives the vineyards more direct sunlight throughout the day and faster drainage.

The unique terroir of Mount Veeder AVA produces wines that are very powerful in structure in wines. Varietals grown in this appellation can show a broad range of styles.

Oakville Viticultural Area

AVA: Oakville | Region: North Coast | AVA Area: 5,000 | AVA planted: 5,700

The Oakville AVA is an American Viticultural Area located within Napa Valley AVA. It was established as an AVA in 1993. The Oakville AVA is approximately 5,700 acres, of which 5,000 acres are planted vineyards. There are over thirty wineries that can be found in this appellation.

The Oakville AVA is a warm climate area and rests on the flat Napa Valley floor between the Vaca Mountains and Mayacamas Mountain Range. The small town of Oakville can be found in this appellation.

Oak Knoll Viticultural Area

AVA: Oak Knoll | Region: North Coast | AVA Area: 8,300 | AVA planted: 3,500

The Oak Knoll District of Napa Valley AVA is an American Viticultural Area located within Napa Valley AVA. The Oak Knoll District was established in 2004. The Oak Knoll District is 8,300 acres, of which 3,500 acres are planted vineyard.

The Oak Knoll District is a cooler appellation compared to the northern appellations, but is known to get relatively warm in the afternoon. The cooler climate is, due to its close proximity to the San Pablo Bay. This appellation has several microclimates, which allows it to produce warm and cool climate varietals.

Rutherford Viticultural Area

AVA: Rutherford | Region: North Coast | AVA Area: 6,840 | AVA planted: 3,518

The Rutherford AVA is an American Viticultural Area located within Napa Valley AVA. The Rutherford AVA was established in 1993. The Rutherford AVA is 6,840 acres of which, 3,518 are planted vineyard.

The small Town of Rutherford can be found within the appellation. The Rutherford AVA is located on the Napa Valley floor, centered between the Vaca Mountains and the Mayacama Mountain Range. The climate in the Rutherford AVA is warm, but cools in the evening time.

Spring Mountain District Viticultural Area

AVA: Spring Mountain District | Region: North Coast | AVA Area: 8,600 | AVA planted: 1000

The Spring Mountain District AVA is an American Viti- cultural Area located in the Napa Valley AVA in California. Spring Mountain was established as an American Viti- cultural Area in 1993. The Spring Mountain District is approximately 8,600 acres, of which approximately 1,000 acres are planted vineyards.

The Spring Mountain District is located in the Northwestern portion of the Napa Valley on the Mayacamas Mountains, the City of St. Helena sits below this appellation. The vineyards planted in the Spring Mountain District range from it's highest point of 2,600 feet to as low as 400 feet.

The Spring Mountain District is one of the coolest and wettest appellation during winter in the Napa Valley. During the spring and summer seasons the high elevation stays out of reach from the fog and warm inland breeze from the Santa Rosa, Sonoma, Ca. allows this appellation to warm up quickly.

St. Helena Viticultural Area

AVA: St. Helena | Region: North Coast | AVA Area: 9,000 | AVA planted: 1000

The St. Helena AVA is an American Viticultural Area located in the northern end of the Napa Valley. The St. Helena AVA became an American Viticultural Area in 1995. This appellation is approximately 9,000 acres. This appellation is nestled around the City of St. Helena Range. The St. Helena AVA is a warm appellation, due to there being no influence from the San Pablo Bay or any other coastal breezes.

Stag's Leap District Viticultural Area

AVA: Stag's Leap District | Region: North Coast | AVA Area: 2,700 | AVA planted: 1,200

The Stags Leap District AVA is an American Viticultural Area located in Napa Valley. The Stag's Leap District became an AVA in 1989. The Stag's Leap District lays on the Napa Valley floor between the Vaca Mountains and Mayacamas Mountain Range, approximately 6 miles north of the City of Napa. This area of Napa Valley is warm and relatively dry.

Wild Horse Viticultural Area

AVA: Wild Horse | Region: North Coast | AVA Area: 3,300 | AVA planted: 100

The Wild Horse Valley AVA is an American Viticultural Area located in the southeast portion of Napa Valley, near the City of Napa, Ca. The Wild Horse AVA overlaps the Nape Valley and Solano County. The Wild Horse AVA was established in 1988 and is approximately 3,300 acres, of which 100 acres is planted vineyard. The wild Horse is close to the San Pablo Bay, which results in a cooler climate, making the Pinot Noir Grape a favorite.

Yountville Viticultural Area

AVA: Yountville | Region: North Coast | AVA Area: 8,000 | AVA planted: 4,000

The Yountville AVA is an American Viticultural Area located in the Napa Valley AVA. It was granted AVA status in 1999. The Yountville AVA is approximately 8,000 acres, of which 4,000 acres are planted vineyard. The Yountville AVA is located on the Napa Valley floor, just south of the City of Napa. It sits between the Vaca Mountains and the Mayacamas Mountain range. The small town of Yountville can be found in this AVA.

Since the Yountville AVA is centered on the Napa Valley floor and is in close proximity to the San Pablo Bay, it is one of the cooler climates in Napa Valley. The close proximity to the San Pablo Bay helps prolong the growing season giving the grapes a little extra time to mature.