Napa Valley

Napa Valley achieved global wine recognition beginning in 1976 when California wines outscored French classified growths in the blind Paris Tasting an event that permanently altered wine world assumptions. The valley runs 30 miles from Calistoga in the north (volcanic, geothermal, rugged) to Carneros at the southern bay-cooled end, with the famous valley floor planted almost entirely to Cabernet Sauvignon. CA-29 and the parallel Silverado Trail trace the valley's spine, with major estate wineries accessible on both routes. The town of Yountville has the highest concentration of Michelin-starred restaurants per capita of any city in the United States Thomas Keller's The French Laundry has held three stars since 1997. Napa city at the valley's southern end has invested heavily in downtown revitalization; the Oxbow Public Market is the culinary center. The sub-appellations within Napa are where distinctions get specific: Stags Leap District produces elegant Cabernet; Oakville and Rutherford are known for the "Rutherford dust" benchland Cabernet with distinctive earthy notes; Howell Mountain and Diamond Mountain produce powerful mountain-fruit wines from volcanic elevations above the fog line. For groups, hiring a chartered vehicle removes the designated-driver problem entirely a compelling reason why group wine tours are among the valley's most popular offerings.