Napa Valley
Napa Valley is America's most famous wine region and the global standard for New World Cabernet Sauvignon, a valley transformed by the 1976 Judgment of Paris into a premier fine-wine destination.
Fast facts
At a glance
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Climate | Mediterranean, warm days, fog-cooled nights |
| Geography | Famous river-valley AVA north of San Francisco |
| Key appellations | Oakville · Rutherford · Stags Leap · Howell Mountain · Coombsville |
| Main grapes | Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Merlot, Zinfandel |
| Famous for | Judgment of Paris, Bordeaux-style Cabernet, Luxury wineries, Opus One |
Grapes
Signature grapes of Napa Valley
The varieties that define this region's wines.
Cabernet Sauvignon
Cabernet Sauvignon is the world's most famous red grape, the backbone of Bordeaux's great blended wines and th…
Chardonnay
Chardonnay is the world's most planted white grape and a remarkable blank canvas for terroir and winemaking. F…
Merlot
Merlot is France's most planted red grape and the plush partner to Cabernet in Bordeaux blends, especially on …
Zinfandel
Zinfandel is America's heritage grape, genetically related to Croatia's Crljenak Kaštelanski and to Italy's Pr…
Nearby
Related regions
Explore neighbouring wine areas.
Wine travel
Visiting Napa Valley
The world's most polished wine-tourism destination, with iconic wineries along Highway 29 and the Silverado Trail.
US Explore all of United States
Country-wide wine guide with regions, grapes, classification and food culture.