A Guide to the Wines of Napa

The wines of Napa Valley in California are considered some of the best in America



"Wine to me is passion. It's family and friends. It's warmth of heart and generosity of spirit. Wine is art. It's culture. It's the essence of civilization and the art of living." - Robert Mondavi

Often considered the jewel of California and home to some of the most prestigious wineries in California, Napa Valley produces premium quality wines to rival the historic wines of the Old World. In this guide, we explore the superb quality this region has to offer, and cast a light on the history behind some of the best wineries in Napa Valley.

Where is Napa? 

Located on the North Coast of California, the Napa Valley AVA (American Viticultural Area) sits within Napa County. The valley runs for about 50km north to south and is only about 8km wide, with 18,200 ha under vine. Formed by the Napa River and bordered to the west by the Mayacamas Mountains which provide shelter from the cold influence of the Pacific Ocean. To the east lie the Vaca Mountains, which offer protection from the hot Central Valley, with influence from the San Pablo Bay in the south. Vineyard sites are located both on the mountainsides and on the valley floor.

What are the key sub appellations in the Napa Valley?

The Napa Valley is divided into a number of smaller key viticultural areas (AVAs). A few notable ones to look out for include Los Carneros, Stag’s Leap District, Oakville, Rutherford, Saint Helena, Calistoga, Howell Mountain and Mount Veeder.

What made Napa Valley famous?

A key historic moment that really served to put Napa Valley wines - and Californian winemaking more generally - on the map, was the so-called Judgement of Paris, a France vs California blind tasting that was held in Paris in 1976. It was during this tasting that two Californian wines came out on top: 1973 Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon and 1973 Chateau Montelena Chardonnay, highlighting the quality and potential to be found on the Californian wine scene and bringing great growth to the industry. 

The rolling vineyards of Napa Valley

What are the key wine grape varieties and most popular wine styles produced in Napa? 

Cabernet Sauvignon takes centre stage, with top names including PerUs, Screaming Eagle and Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars producing some of the most highly sought after reds from premium terroirs in Napa. Meanwhile for world renowned Bordeaux style blends from the Napa Valley, turn to the leading lights of Opus One and Dominus to name but a few.

Beautiful expressions of the Syrah variety are not to be missed, such as boutique-style examples where Syrah is co-fermented with small amounts of Viognier and Mourvèdre. For whites, Chardonnay is the key variety from the historic Chateau Montelena, to the complex and age-worthy examples produced by Aubert Wines. No cellar is complete without a bottle or two from this magnificent AVA!

The magnificent terroir of Napa

How many wineries are there in Napa Valley?

There are over 450 wineries in Napa, ranging in size, prestige and wine offering, making it a truly exciting wine region to explore!

What is the oldest winery in Napa?

The Charles Krug winery vies for the title, dating back to 1861 when it was founded by the visionary father of Napa Valley winemaking, Charles Krug himself, and subsequently purchased by the Mondavi family in 1943. Beaulieu, Beringer, Inglenook and Schramsberg Vineyards are also key historic Napa estates. 

What are the top wineries in Napa Valley? Who is making the best wine in Napa?

Read on for a selection of top producers on our shelves at Hedonism Wines, and a brief outline of their history and stellar wines:  

Abreu 

Iconic Californian viticulturalist, David Abreu, produces exceptional and highly distinctive single-vineyard wines in tiny quantities. Explore exquisite Bordeaux blends and Cabernet Sauvignon-driven reds like Cappella, Las Posadas, Madrona Ranch and Thorevilos.

Araujo Estate Wines

Located in Calistoga, California, Bart and Daphne Araujo are behind the wines of the iconic Eisele Vineyard, which has been making intensely flavoured Cabernet Sauvignon wines since 1971. Protected by the Palisades Mountains to the north and cooled by westerly breezes from the Chalk Hill Gap, this 38-acre vineyard is planted on well-drained cobbly soils that produce a low yielding crop of exceptionally concentrated fruit.

Bryant Estate

Reflecting the vision of proprietors Don and Bettina Bryant, who first purchased land on Pritchard Hill over 30 years ago, the estate’s flagship wine is the Bryant Family Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon. Produced from premier quality estate-grown grapes from a single 13-acre vineyard.

Cardinale Established in 1982 with a mission to produce a singular Cabernet Sauvignon from the highest-quality vineyards in Napa Valley. Mountain-grown grapes are key to the wine style and are sourced from the two key sub-appellations of Mount Veeder and Howell Mountain. 

Dominus

Rooted in values of quality, stewardship, tradition and innovation, the Dominus Estate team produces distinctive wines that express the essence of the historic Napanook vineyard. Nestled in a natural amphitheatre at the foothills of the Mayacamas Mountains on the west side of the Napa Valley, Christian Moueix began producing Dominus from the historic Napanook vineyard in Yountville in 1983. The wine is a classic Bordeaux style red blend, composed predominantly of Cabernet Sauvignon, with smaller percentages of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot making up the rest.

Harlan Estate

Founded by Bill Harlan in 1984, the internationally renowned name that is also behind Promontory and BOND wines. In establishing the estate, Harlan sought to produce a 'First Growth' of California from the western hills of Oakville. The estate boasts nearly forty acres under vine, planted to Cabernet Sauvignon (70%), Merlot (20%), Cabernet Franc (8%), and Petit Verdot (2%). 

Famously Robert Parker described the Harlan wines as follows, "These wines possess all the elements of greatness - individuality, power combined with elegance, extraordinary complexity, remarkable aging potential, and compelling richness without ponderousness." 

Joseph Phelps Vineyards

Established in 1973 by Joseph Phelps when he first took possession of a 600-acre cattle ranch on the east side of St. Helena. The estate has been entirely family run until very recently, with a new chapter marked by the announcement of LMVH’s purchase of the estate earlier this year (2022). Key wines include the flagship Bordeaux blend Insignia and classic Oakville red, Backus. 

Robert Mondavi 

Many consider Robert Mondavi to be one of the most important figures in American wine. In 1966 he founded his namesake winery with the aim of creating world-class Napa Valley wines. He selected the To Kalon Vineyard in the heart of the Napa Valley as the home for Robert Mondavi Winery and this hallowed first-growth-equivalent vineyard, located in Oakville, is known for producing some of the finest Cabernet Sauvignon wines in the world. 

Opus One

The 1979 vintage marked the first release of Opus One, a joint venture between pioneering Californian winemaker Robert Mondavi and the late Baron Philippe de Rothschild. Ever since, the winery has sealed for itself an incredible reputation for producing some of the highest quality Cabernet Sauvignon-based wines in Napa. 

PerUs

PerUs is an ultra-premium and exclusive Californian wine brand established by businessman Anmol Bhandari in collaboration with renowned winemaker, Russell Bevan. Key wines include Armaan, Bryn, Ines, Janeen, Kyla and Lyla. To quote Robert Parker, “Russell Bevan is one of the more outspoken producers in Napa Valley, and so are his wines. These sumptuous, beautifully textured reds are full of personality. Made to be accessible right upon release, the Bevan wines are rich, intense and hugely delicious.”

Scarecrow

Scarecrow was established in 2003 when Bret Lopez purchased approximately 100 acres in Rutherford from a family trust. The wines are produced from one single 25-acre vineyard, which is sub-divided into 13 individual blocks, situated near the base of the Mayacamas mountain range. Winemaker Celia Welch crafts stand-out reds, including the M. Étain range which incorporates Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Malbec in a Cabernet-based red blend.

Screaming Eagle

Screaming Eagle is perhaps the most famous California Cult winery of all time and produces one of the most sought-after wines in the world. Sourced from a small, 57-acre vineyard in Oakville, Napa, production of this exceptional Cabernet Sauvignon-based blend is supremely limited and older vintages are increasingly rare.

Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars

Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars (not to be confused with the similarly-named Stags’ Leap Winery) is a highly renowned Napa Winery, with a reputation for the producing high quality Cabernet Sauvignon. The winery rose to fame following the historic ‘Judgement on Paris’ in 1976. Key wines include Fay, S.L.V., ARTEMIS and CASK 23. This historic 44 acre estate was first purchased in 1970 and was named Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars, inspired by the legend of the stag who successfully eluded hunters by leaping to freedom across the district's landmark peaks. 

Ulysses

Situated along Napa Valley’s Oakville bench, the Ulysses vineyard was once part of the famed Charles Hopper ranch and was acquired by Christian Moueix in 2008. With its deep, gravelly, clay loam soil, the Ulysses vineyard is ideally suited to growing Cabernet Sauvignon. Managed according to sustainable farming practices, Ulysses adopts a dry farming approach, seeking to enhance root depth and drought resistance. The wine is a distinctive Cabernet Sauvignon with a touch of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. The first vintage was produced in 2012.

Want to hear more about the world of Napa wine from some of the top figures in the industry? Read some of our interviews with top winemakers and winery owners.

Bill Harlan - the founder of Harlan Estate, Promontory and BOND

Brad Grimes - winemaker at Abreu

Ashley Hepworth - winemaker at Joseph Phelps Vineyards

Kathryn Carothers - winemaker at Bryant Estate Winemaker

Marcus Notaro - winemaker at Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars