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St. Helena: an Exceptional Napa Valley Wine Region
from: Maxx Guide to WineThe St. Helena area is certainly known for producing some very fine wines, but the area is also the business center in Napa Valley. St. Helena is a picturesque town with about 6,000 residents where you'll discover some of the most beautiful wine country any where along with some of the most prestigious wineries in California.
A warm climate in St. Helena has contributed to its development as a premier wine region. Most wineries in this area very successfully produce Cabernet Sauvignon based wines. Well known wineries include Charles Krug, Beringer and Vineyard 29.
The warm and sunny climate also allows Zinfandel and Cabernet Sauvignon, in particular, to do very well. Wines produced at St. Helena tend to have a fuller body than wines from southern regions, which are cooler. The St. Helena region is now a favorite area for tourists who love to go on tastings and wine tours.
Similar to sub-regions at Napa Valley, the terrain of St. Helena is somewhat different than areas located close by. Soils in the area tend be comprised of volcanic and alluvial debris. San Pablo Bay once covered a number of the AVAs at Napa Valley; however, it never extended as far north as St. Helena.
St. Helena tends to be warmer when compared to the southern regions of Napa Valley. The valley curves somewhat to the west, dispersing even the small amounts of fog and wind that slide past the Yountville Mounts. In the afternoon, however, the climate will often get cooler as the breeze makes its way through Knights Valley and Chalk Hill. In the evening, the temperatures drops further, allowing the grapes in St. Helena to retain their acidity.
St. Helena also receives more rainfall, on average, than the rest of the southern valley -- up to 38 inches of rain fall per year in St. Helena compared to a 32 inches in the rest of the valley.
The terrain at St. Helena has allowed the development of this region as a premier wine production area as the soil tends to be primarily sedimentary and alluvial. There's also some volcanic influence resulting in some of the most widely planted varieties in the region including Chenin Blanc and Chardonnay. Zinfandel does well here as shown by the success of Buehler Vineyards.
Since vines in the valley can extend up to 400 feet, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel thrive in the local area.
When travelling south of St. Helena the Valley tends to narrow quite a bit. North of town, adjacent to Highway 29, is the Bench. Beringer Vineyards, one of the best known vineyards in the country, is located on the Northern Bench.
Vineyard 29 is one of many examples of wineries that have become known throughout the world as a result of the superb local climate and terrain of St. Helena. This vineyard was founded in 1989 by Teresa Norton and Tom Paine. Cuttings from Grace Family Vineyard were used to establish the vineyard.
There's no doubt St. Helena is well established as a commercial center in the Valley, as well as the production of exceptional wines. The beautiful, quaint town at the heart of the St. Helena region is an attractive draw for tourists every year.
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