Neals Yard

Napa Valley is a famous wine region in the world. Although most people have heard of the Napa Valley, not everyone knows why he is one of the prime wine producing regions of the world. It does not happen by accident.

Recently, it was an event sponsored by the Napa Valley Vintners held on the terrace of La Maison Gourmet Mission Viejo to. The host, Linda Neal, a winemaker, vineyard manager and vineyard owner, has spent the better part of two hours explaining the nuances that make Napa Valley what it is today.

Napa Valley is officially recognized by the American Viticultural Area (AVA), a designated wine region. Although this is a big deal, Napa Valley is not a great place. The bottom of the valley between the Mayacamas and Vaca mountain ranges and is only about 5 miles wide and 30 miles long. While the Napa Valley one of the most famous wine regions in the world, it is also one of the smallest. The Napa Valley AVA is about one-eighth the size of the Bordeaux region of France.

Yet in this small area there are over 100 variations of soil, each capable of giving the grapes a different character. Adding diversity are hills in the north and mountain ranges to the east and west. The fertile soils of the valley differ from those of rocky slopes, where the wines can fight for moisture. These differences help to define the wines are produced in the Napa Valley. As does the climate and altitude, from sea level to 4,000 ft peak of Mount St. Helena.

If the gods of wine was to create an area perfect for growing grapes, Napa Valley is the result. The location of the Mediterranean climate zone has warm summer days, ideal for building the sugar content. The cool evenings are ideal for the development of acidity desired. With a long growing season, the grapes ripen slowly and evenly in a perfect balance between the two.

In the valley of several different soils and microclimates that can have an enormous impact on a variety of different grapes. Average rainfall in the southern section of only 18 inches per year, while the mountains to the north end can get up to 60 inches. Fortunately, the rain falls mainly in the winter months, not during the growing season. This reduces the risk of disease vineyard, which can decimate a crop.

All these factors taken together are commonly called by the French word terroir. Loosely translated as "a sense of belonging, which is why the same grape grown in different parts of the world can taste quite different. Here in Napa, a Merlot from Howell Mountain AVA to the north have powerful aromas of ripe-running with excellent acidity. To the south, Los Carneros, the same grape will be slightly herbal, often used for blending.

So the decision to the vintners of Napa is whether many to melt or not? Mixture of different vineyards and regions within the designation can create wines with more complexity. Single Vineyard wines often have a very distinct style, a sense of place, if you.

Napa Valley is also home to some techniques of winemaking most advanced in the world. For example, they were the first to use satellite technology to NASA for help in planting and irrigation decisions.

The close association with UC Davis, one of the schools most respected wine in the world, for Napa to be at the forefront of research in the wine industry, from cultures of clones coverage for the harvesting techniques and fermentation. It is all right in the back yard, which allows a perfect blend of art and science of fine winemaking.

Napa Valley has come a long way to T.