Napa, a Delight for the Senses

To vintners in the Napa Valley there is much more to growing grapes for world class wines than meets the eye. Yes, home owners in Napa can easily drive a scenic route to a charming winery and enjoy both a beautiful environment as well as a tasty flight of wines. But, Napa Valley vintners feel a special responsibility to the extraordinary environment they call home, and generously endow the Valley with the fruits of their labor.

Stewards of Napa Valley Lands
Sponsoring the Napa Valley Wine Auction, the Napa Valley Vintners returned nearly $2 million to the community for affordable housing projects, including housing for farm workers. They also support Napa Valley’s dedication to open space that created the nation’s first agricultural preserve – 30,000 untouchable acres saved for the future.

Compared to some regions, Napa Valley real estate is not dominated by vineyards. About 45,000 acres are planted in grapevines, or less than 10 percent of the county’s total acreage. Still, the Napa Valley enjoys a worldwide reputation for the quality of its wines and home owners have hundreds of wineries to visit and enjoy at their leisure.

When touring Napa Valley wine country, it’s gratifying to know that developed vineyards are surrounded by buffer zones where wildlife can flourish and remain protected. Most growers pay close attention to the continued health of both the land and the native wildlife such as owls and hawks by using sulfur as a pesticide. This organic fungicide is a natural compound that’s certified for use in organic farming.

Winding Roads and Wineries Galore

Wineries are located throughout the Napa Valley and nearly any venture onto a winding road will offer access to one of many boutique wineries or to a palatial estate such as the Charles Krug Winery or the world famous Mondavi Estate.

In Napa Valley, the journey will be just as pleasant and scenic as the destination. Napa home owners have convenient access to Highway 29 that wanders through the countryside and skirts many major wineries. It also provides a glimpse of some very exclusive Napa Valley real estate with elegant homes and landscaped grounds. The two-lane road leads to Napa Valley’s charming towns with boutique shopping and tempting restaurants.

The Road Less Traveled
Yet another scenic favorite is the drive along the Silverado Trail. This might be the choice for Napa Valley home owners who want to avoid the high traffic of the tourist season. Also a two lane road with many twists and turns, locals know to take it slow and easy while enjoying the peaceful countryside. It bypasses most of the towns and congestion, but is convenient to several friendly wineries and rich in Napa history.

The Silverado Trail once served the mining trade as mercury (known as quicksilver) was hauled from the region to Gold Country in the Central Sierra. There, Napa quicksilver was used to separate nuggets and flakes of gold from the rock and sand that held the precious metal captive.

Personality Plus
Of course, one of the delights of Napa Valley wine country is getting to know the distinct personalities of the region’s tasting rooms. Most wineries are staffed by people very knowledgeable about the industry and appellations. They are delighted to share information with visitors and, for Napa home owners, make them loyal return guests. Hospitality at Napa’s wineries is paramount and loyal local customers are as welcome as the summer sun.

Many Napa vintners have paid careful attention to the ambience of their wineries and visitors will be delighted with the wide variety of architectural styles and creative landscaping. From Tuscan style estates to restored Craftsmen homes and upscale ranches, Napa wineries express their own distinct personality and style. Many also include art galleries featuring accomplished local artists.

Wine tasting in the Napa Valley usually includes sampling regional cuisine. Tasting rooms characteristically offer locally produced cheeses and fruit; several host formal restaurants with nationally known chefs. For the Napa valley home owner, wine tasting, along with the many scenic and gustatory delights it offers, is just another beautiful benefit of living in Napa County.