Napa Valley: Difference between revisions

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== Background ==

[[Viticulture]] in Napa dates back to the mid-19th century, with pioneer George C. Yount planting some of the first vines in the 1830s. By the 1880s, the area had over 140 wineries and had established itself as a leading centre for Californian winemaking<ref>Pinney, ''A History of Wine in America: From Prohibition to the Present'', University of California Press, 2005, ISBN 978-0520241769.</ref>. However, setbacks such as [[phylloxera]] and [[Prohibition]] stalled progress until the region re-emerged in the post-war era. The 1976 “Judgement of Paris”, in which Napa wines outperformed top Bordeaux and Burgundy in a blind tasting, marked a turning point in global recognition<ref>Robinson (ed.), ''The Oxford Companion to Wine'', Oxford University Press, 2015, ISBN 978-0198705383.</ref>.

[[Viticulture]] in Napa dates back to the mid-19th century, with pioneer George C. Yount planting some of the first vines in the 1830s. By the 1880s, the area had over 140 wineries and had established itself as a leading centre for Californian winemaking<ref>Pinney, ''A History of Wine in America: From Prohibition to the Present'', University of California Press, 2005, ISBN 978-0520241769.</ref>. However, setbacks such as [[phylloxera]] and Prohibition stalled progress until the region re-emerged in the post-war era. The 1976 “Judgement of Paris”, in which Napa wines outperformed top Bordeaux and Burgundy in a blind tasting, marked a turning point in global recognition<ref>Robinson (ed.), ''The Oxford Companion to Wine'', Oxford University Press, 2015, ISBN 978-0198705383.</ref>.

== Napa County and the Broader Wine Region ==

Napa County spans roughly 30 miles in length and 5 miles in width, flanked by the Mayacamas Mountains to the west and the Vaca Range to the east. This area includes a wide range of vineyard sites at varying elevations, not all of which fall within the official [[Napa Valley AVA]]<ref>Johnson & Robinson, ''The World Atlas of Wine'', 8th ed., Mitchell Beazley, 2019, ISBN 978-1784724030.</ref>. The county encompasses several microclimates, influenced by altitude, fog intrusion from San Pablo Bay, and diurnal temperature variation.

Napa County spans roughly 30 miles in length and 5 miles in width, flanked by the Mayacamas Mountains to the west and the Vaca Range to the east. This area includes a wide range of vineyard sites at varying elevations, not all of which fall within the official Napa Valley AVA<ref>Johnson & Robinson, ''The World Atlas of Wine'', 8th ed., Mitchell Beazley, 2019, ISBN 978-1784724030.</ref>. The county encompasses several microclimates, influenced by altitude, fog intrusion from San Pablo Bay, and diurnal temperature variation.

Soils are geologically diverse, comprising volcanic rock, marine sediment, and alluvial deposits. This diversity contributes to the complexity and variation of wine styles across the region<ref>Goode, ''The Science of Wine: From Vine to Glass'', University of California Press, 2014, ISBN 978-0520275751.</ref>.

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 == Background ==
-[[Viticulture]] in Napa dates back to the mid-19th century, with pioneer George C. Yount planting some of the first vines in the 1830s. By the 1880s, the area had over 140 wineries and had established itself as a leading centre for Californian winemaking<ref>Pinney, ''A History of Wine in America: From Prohibition to the Present'', University of California Press, 2005, ISBN 978-0520241769.</ref>. However, setbacks such as [[phylloxera]] and [[Prohibition]] stalled progress until the region re-emerged in the post-war era. The 1976 “Judgement of Paris”, in which Napa wines outperformed top Bordeaux and Burgundy in a blind tasting, marked a turning point in global recognition<ref>Robinson (ed.), ''The Oxford Companion to Wine'', Oxford University Press, 2015, ISBN 978-0198705383.</ref>.
+[[Viticulture]] in Napa dates back to the mid-19th century, with pioneer George C. Yount planting some of the first vines in the 1830s. By the 1880s, the area had over 140 wineries and had established itself as a leading centre for Californian winemaking<ref>Pinney, ''A History of Wine in America: From Prohibition to the Present'', University of California Press, 2005, ISBN 978-0520241769.</ref>. However, setbacks such as [[phylloxera]] and Prohibition stalled progress until the region re-emerged in the post-war era. The 1976 “Judgement of Paris”, in which Napa wines outperformed top Bordeaux and Burgundy in a blind tasting, marked a turning point in global recognition<ref>Robinson (ed.), ''The Oxford Companion to Wine'', Oxford University Press, 2015, ISBN 978-0198705383.</ref>.
 == Napa County and the Broader Wine Region ==
-Napa County spans roughly 30 miles in length and 5 miles in width, flanked by the Mayacamas Mountains to the west and the Vaca Range to the east. This area includes a wide range of vineyard sites at varying elevations, not all of which fall within the official [[Napa Valley AVA]]<ref>Johnson & Robinson, ''The World Atlas of Wine'', 8th ed., Mitchell Beazley, 2019, ISBN 978-1784724030.</ref>. The county encompasses several microclimates, influenced by altitude, fog intrusion from San Pablo Bay, and diurnal temperature variation.
+Napa County spans roughly 30 miles in length and 5 miles in width, flanked by the Mayacamas Mountains to the west and the Vaca Range to the east. This area includes a wide range of vineyard sites at varying elevations, not all of which fall within the official Napa Valley AVA<ref>Johnson & Robinson, ''The World Atlas of Wine'', 8th ed., Mitchell Beazley, 2019, ISBN 978-1784724030.</ref>. The county encompasses several microclimates, influenced by altitude, fog intrusion from San Pablo Bay, and diurnal temperature variation.
 Soils are geologically diverse, comprising volcanic rock, marine sediment, and alluvial deposits. This diversity contributes to the complexity and variation of wine styles across the region<ref>Goode, ''The Science of Wine: From Vine to Glass'', University of California Press, 2014, ISBN 978-0520275751.</ref>.