St. Helena AVA

Last updated

St. Helena AVA
Wine region
St Helena napa cab.jpg
A Cabernet Sauvignon from St. Helena
Official nameSt. Helena
Type American Viticultural Area
Year established1995 [1]
Years of wine industry163 [2]
Country United States
Part of North Coast AVA, Napa Valley AVA
Other regions in North Coast AVA, Napa Valley AVA Atlas Peak AVA, Calistoga AVA, Chiles Valley AVA, Diamond Mountain District AVA, Howell Mountain AVA, Los Carneros AVA, Mt. Veeder AVA, Coombsville AVA, Oak Knoll District of Napa Valley AVA, Oakville AVA, Rutherford AVA, Spring Mountain District AVA, Stags Leap District AVA, Wild Horse Valley AVA, Yountville AVA
Total area9,060 acres (14 sq mi) [2]
Size of planted vineyards6,800 acres (2,800 ha) [3]
No. of vineyards400 [3]
Varietals produced Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Sangiovese, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Syrah, Petit Verdot
No. of wineries93 [4]

St. Helena is an American Viticultural Area (AVA) located within Napa Valley, centered in and around the town of St. Helena, California. It was established by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) on October 11, 1995, after the ATF received a petition from Mr. Charles A. Carpy, Chairman of the St. Helena Appellation Committee, proposing to establish a new viticultural area in Napa County to be known as "St. Helena." [2]

Contents

Geography

The appellation covers 9,060 acres (14 sq mi) along the flat narrow land towards the northern end of the valley between the Vaca and Mayacamas Mountains. [4] Its soil is mostly loam with good water retention and varying amounts of gravel. [5]

Climate

The area has a Warm-summer Mediterranean climate, [6] and is somewhat hotter than nearby wine growing regions with summer temperatures that often reach the mid 90s Fahrenheit. [7] It receives approximately 40 inches of rainfall per year.

History

In 1860, George Belden Crane planted Mission vines in St. Helena, and the vineyard produced its first wine in 1862. By 1874, the vineyard had produced 500,000 gallons of wine annually. [6] Charles Krug, one of the pioneers of Napa Valley winemaking, founded his winery in 1861 in the St. Helena district. [4] Krug also established the St. Helena Viticultural Club in 1876. [8]

On October 11, 1995, St. Helena AVA was established by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF). [2] [8] The AVA hosts more than 93 wineries with about 6,800 acres (2,800 ha) cultivated. [3] [4]

Viticulture

The region is known for its red wines, including Zinfandel, Petite Sirah and Pinot Noir, although white wines are also produced there such as Chardonnay. [7] Its terroir is particularly well suited to Bordeaux, particularly Sauvignon Blanc. [6] St. Helena's Cabernet Sauvignon is noted for its quality. [5]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Livermore Valley AVA</span> Wine grape–growing region in California, U.S.

The Livermore Valley AVA is an American Viticultural Area in Alameda County, California, surrounding the city of Livermore in the Tri-Valley region. Both the AVA and the city are named after Robert Livermore, a landowner whose holdings encompassed the valley. The groundwater basin underlying the valley is the Livermore Basin, the largest sub-unit of which is the Mocho Subbasin. The Livermore Basin is one of five aquifers in the San Francisco Bay Area that supply most of the metropolitan Bay Area population. The entire Livermore Basin aquifer faces a concern over elevated total dissolved solids by the year 2020 due to an expanding human population leading to higher rates of return water flows to the aquifer containing certain salts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Applegate Valley AVA</span>

The Applegate Valley AVA is an American Viticultural Area located in southern Oregon. It is entirely contained within the Rogue Valley AVA, which is itself included within the larger Southern Oregon AVA. The region is named for the Applegate River, which flows through the town of Applegate and near the city of Jacksonville. The Applegate Valley has been a grape-growing region since 1870 when A. H. Carson began planting 30 acres of grapes along North Applegate Road. One of Oregon's first wineries was established in the Applegate Valley. This region contains vineyards at altitudes ranging from 1,000 feet (300 m) to 1,500 feet (500 m) above sea level, and is warmer and drier than the Illinois Valley to the west, but less so than the Bear Creek Valley to the east. Grapes that thrive here include Tempranillo, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Tannat, Vermentino, Chardonnay, and Zinfandel.

Napa Valley is an American Viticultural Area (AVA) located in Napa County in California's Wine Country. It was established by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) on January 27, 1981. Napa Valley is considered one of the premier wine regions in the world. Records of commercial wine production in the region date back to the nineteenth century, but premium wine production dates back only to the 1960s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Augusta AVA</span>

The Augusta AVA was established on June 20, 1980 as the first federally approved American Viticultural Area, eight months before the Napa Valley AVA in northern California. The petition was submitted by Clayton W. Byers and Lucian W. Dressel, representing the local wine industry, to the Director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms on October 16, 1978. Located entirely within the state of Missouri, the boundaries of this wine region encompass 15 square miles (39 km2) around the city of Augusta near the intersection of St. Charles County, Warren County and Franklin County.

The Guenoc Valley AVA is an American Viticultural Area in Lake County, California, United States, about 15 mi (24 km) north of the town of Calistoga. Guenoc Valley AVA was the first American Viticultural Area designation granted to an area with just a single winery.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sonoma County wine</span> Wine made in Sonoma County, California

Sonoma County wine is wine made in Sonoma County, California, in the United States.

The Santa Cruz Mountains AVA is an American Viticultural Area centered on the Santa Cruz Mountains. Its territory expands three California counties, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz and San Mateo. Established in 1981 by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB), Santa Cruz Mountains AVA was among the first to be defined by its mountain topography. Based on elevation, it largely follows the fog line along the coast, extending down to 800 feet (240 m) on the eastern slope toward San Francisco Bay, 400 feet (120 m) on the western slope to the Pacific Ocean and extending toward the ridgecrests at 3000+ feet elevation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dry Creek Valley AVA</span>

The Dry Creek Valley AVA is an American Viticultural Area in Sonoma County, California, located northwest of the town of Healdsburg. The valley is formed by Dry Creek, a tributary of the Russian River, and is approximately 16 miles (25.7 km) long and 2 miles (3.2 km) wide. The appellation benefits from the proximity of the Lake Sonoma reservoir for irrigation in this relatively dry area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North Coast AVA</span>

The North Coast AVA is an American Viticultural Area in the state of California that encompasses grape-growing regions in six counties located north of San Francisco: Lake, Marin, Mendocino, Napa, Sonoma, and Solano. This large appellation covers over 3,000,000 acres (5,000 sq mi) and includes a number of smaller sub-appellations that all share the common ecology trait of weather affected by the fog and breezes off the Pacific Ocean.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sonoma Valley AVA</span>

The Sonoma Valley AVA is an American Viticultural Area in Sonoma County, California which centers on the Sonoma Valley in the southern portion of the county. The name 'Sonoma' means 'Valley of the Moon' in the local Native American dialect. The appellation is bordered by two mountain ranges: the Mayacamas Mountains to the east and the Sonoma Mountains to the west.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oakville AVA</span> American Viticultural Area located in California

The Oakville AVA is an American Viticultural Area located within Napa Valley AVA and centered on the town of Oakville, California. The appellation extends over a flat expanse of well-drained gravel soil between the Vaca and Mayacamas Mountains. Oakville AVA is known for its success with Bordeaux varietals, which have produced wines of rich texture, firm tannins, and notes of mint and herbs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stags Leap District AVA</span>

The Stags Leap District AVA is an American Viticultural Area located within the Napa Valley AVA 6 miles (9.7 km) north of the city of Napa, California. The Stags Leap District was the first appellation to be designated an AVA based on the unique terroir characteristics of its soil. The soil of this region include loam and clay sediments from the Napa River and volcanic soil deposits left over from erosion of the Vaca Mountains. Like many Napa Valley AVAs, Stags Leap District is particularly known for its Cabernet Sauvignon. In 1976 at the Judgment of Paris wine tasting, the 1973 Stag's Leap Wine Cellars Cabernet from the area that would become this AVA won first place in the red wine category, beating out classified Bordeaux estates. Today, the Stags Leap District is home to twenty different wineries.

The Chiles Valley District is an American Viticultural Area (AVA) located in Napa County, California and a sub-region within Napa Valley AVA. It was established by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) on April 19, 1999 after the ATF received the petition from Mr. Volker Eisele, owner of the Volker Eisele Vineyard and Winery proposing a new viticultural area in Napa County to be known as "Chiles Valley District."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Howell Mountain AVA</span>

The Howell Mountain AVA is an American Viticultural Area located within Napa Valley AVA of California.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spring Mountain District AVA</span> American Viticultural Area in California, United States

The Spring Mountain District AVA is an American Viticultural Area located in the Napa Valley AVA in California. Spring Mountain District AVA was officially established as an American Viticulture Area in 1993. Encompassed within its bounds are about 8,600 acres (3,480 ha), of which about 1,000 acres (400 ha) are planted to vineyards. Given the small crop yields on hillsides, the region represents less than 2% of Napa Valley wine. Currently the region has just over 30 winegrowers.

Leona Valley AVA is an American Viticulture Area (AVA) in northeastern Los Angeles County, California. It is located in Leona Valley within the Sierra Pelona Mountains of Southern California.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lake County wine</span> Appelation that designates wine in Napa Country, CA

Lake County wine is an appellation that designates wine made from grapes grown mostly in Lake County, California and located north of Napa County. Although each region within Lake County has unique viticultural attributes, all are influenced by Clear Lake, the largest inland body of water in California. Lake County enjoys a reputation for bright, concentrated red wines made from Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Zinfandel, and fresh, aromatic whites made from Sauvignon Blanc. Cabernet Sauvignon has the most acreage, with Merlot a distant second.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clear Lake AVA</span>

The Clear Lake AVA is an American Viticultural Area located in Lake County, California. Half of the area contained within the boundaries of the AVA is Clear Lake, the largest body of freshwater in the state of California, and the namesake for the county. The moderating influence of the lake on the surrounding area results in a climate with less diurnal variation in temperature than surrounding areas. Elevations range from 1,300 feet to well over 3,000 feet. Clear Lake AVA is one of the coolest climates in California, which has led to success with grape varietals like Sauvignon blanc.

Kelsey Bench-Lake County AVA is an American Viticultural Area located in Lake County, California. The area is home to some 900 acres of vines in 27 vineyards, and was officially established as an AVA by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) in October 2013. Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Viognier and Riesling are the principal white grape varieties within Kelsey Bench and its neighbor the Big Valley District AVA. The Zinfandel, Merlot and Cabernet Franc varieties make up the majority of red grape plantings in the area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Moon Mountain District Sonoma County</span>

Moon Mountain District Sonoma County is an American Viticultural Area (AVA) within Sonoma Valley and North Coast viticultural areas, just north of the city of Sonoma. This mountainous region on the very eastern edge of Sonoma County has a historic reputation for producing rich, intensely-flavored wines from Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah varietals since the 1880s. The District was established on November 1, 2013 by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB). Its designation covers 17,663 acres (28 sq mi) of land stretching north-south along the western slopes of the Mayacamas mountains between Sugarloaf Ridge State Park and Los Carneros viticultural area with the Napa Valley’s Mount Veeder viticultural area outlining the eastern slopes. Its name is derived from Moon Mountain Road, which traverses through the area and itself a reference to Sonoma, which means 'valley of the moon' in the local Native American dialect. A clear view to San Francisco 50 miles (80 km) south is not uncommon from Moon Mountain District vineyards.

References

  1. ↑ "§ 9.149 St. Helena" (Title 27: Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms; Part 9— American Viticultural Areas; Subpart C— Approved American Viticultural Areas). Code of Federal Regulations (e-CFR). Retrieved October 31, 2007.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "The St. Helena Viticultural Area (94F–015P)" (27 CFR Part 9 60 FR 47053 [T.D. ATF–366; RE: Notice No. 801] RIN 1512–AA07, Final rule). Federal Register . Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau. 60 (175): 47053–47061. September 11, 1995. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 31, 2021.PD-icon.svg This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain .
  3. 1 2 3 "St. Helena AVA" (Napa Valley’s Wine Epicenter). Napa Valley Life Magazine. August 5, 2020.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "St. Helena (AVA): Appellation Profile". Appellation America. 2007. Archived from the original on August 29, 2018. Retrieved October 31, 2007.
  5. 1 2 Brook, Stephen (March 7, 2011). The Finest Wines of California: A Regional Guide to the Best Producers and Their Wines. University of California Press. p. 67. ISBN   978-0-520-26658-2.
  6. 1 2 3 "St. Helena AVA — What Everyone Should Know". FredSwan.wine. December 27, 2019. Retrieved May 1, 2022.
  7. 1 2 Villano, Matt; Doerper, John; Wood, Sharron S. (2011). California Wine Country (6th ed.). Compass American Guides. p. 116. ISBN   978-1-4000-0492-8.
  8. 1 2 Walker, Larry (March 17, 2005). The Wines of the Napa Valley. Octopus. ISBN   978-1-84533-625-7.

38°30′54″N122°30′32″W / 38.51489°N 122.50899°W / 38.51489; -122.50899

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.