Planning your Napa Valley Vacation in California!

Visiting Napa Valley California

The beautiful 30 mile long Napa Valley drapes the northeastern tip of San Francisco Bay. Attracting visitors from around the world, this area is famous for the wines produced from the grapes cultivated in its rich fertile soil. The areas gentle climate make it the ideal place for vineyards to flourish. The same land and environment has created a verdant countryside covered with brilliant flowers boasting every hue in the spectrum. The warm sunny skies and picturesque views offer a wonderful setting for touring the many fine wineries of the area. The accommodations of the region are second to none. Many provide spa services to greater enhance the Napa Valley vacation experience. Various attractions delight visitors to the area with an unsurprising emphasis on food and beverage. There are events scheduled for every season from a hands-on cooking class to a jazz festival. And the region is even home to its own venue for the Arts, the Napa Valley Opera House. Offering chamber music, dance, and everything in between performances can be enjoyed here throughout the year. Napa Valley shopping is unique in that you travel through the quaint towns of this 30 mile long strip of gorgeous countryside discovering some of the most charming little stores and collections of stores you could find anywhere. Whether you are looking for fine art, Napa Valley collectibles, or fashionable clothing you will find it all in this region. Napa Valley restaurants are among some of the finest in the world. One of the distinctions that shape the cuisine of this area is the influence of the wine industry. Many Napa Valley chefs passionately undertake their mission of creating culinary masterpieces that compliment the fine wines of the region. Even small cafes and sandwich shops in the Napa Valley region offer a generous selection of the area’s beverage bounty.

Napa Valley Climate

The warm sunny days and cool nights of Napa Valley create the perfect climate for growing the premium grapes used in this regions generous selection of superb wines. The temperate climate allows the grapes to ripen gradually. The valley is bound on both sides by mountains and each region has its own variation in climate. These variations influence the tastes of wines produced with grapes from different areas of the valley. Average annual temperatures fall in the range of the mid 40s to the high 60s. The summers are mild with average temperatures around 66 degrees. Late fall temperatures drop into the 50s. Winters are mild with average temperatures ranging in the high 40s to low 50s. Spring temperatures are similar to fall temperatures with just a mild difference on the low side experienced this time of year.

Napa Valley's Rich Wine History

Napa Valley is home to over 200 wineries and is the number one travel destination for visitors in the state of California. The climate and soil here make Napa Valley the ultimate place to grow the grapes that makes this area world famous for its wines. The area has quite a varied history when it comes to wine production, from the earliest wineries of the 1800s to today. The Indian inhabitants first enjoyed the abundance of wild grapes that covered the region, but it wasn’t until the 1830s that the first vineyard was planted. As more people realized the potential of this area as a haven for growing wine grapes the Wine Country began to grow. The industry boomed until the region had a battle with Phylloxera, a tiny insect, which kills grapevines by attacking their roots. The area recovered from this only to face an even bigger nemesis. Prohibition almost ended the production of wine for this region. Minimal production was continued through this time and only for religious and medicinal purposes. It took many years after prohibition ended for the Napa Valley region to continue on the path to world recognition that had begun nearly a century earlier in the famous California Gold Rush Days. Today wine enthusiasts and connoisseurs from all parts of the globe flow into Napa Valley for freshly poured glasses of cabernet sauvignon, chardonnay, merlot, pinot noir, and sauvignon blanc - just some of the wines produced here. Many of the Napa Valley wineries offer tours and sampling as they continue in their quest to produce the finest wines the world has ever known.

The Napa Valley region caters to visitors year round. The area experiences the highest number of visitors from May to October with the largest numbers coming during harvest time in September and October. To avoid the busiest times it might be best to come from November to April. If you do decide to travel during peak season make sure to make your reservation well in advance. If you are touring the wineries remember that Saturday is always a busy day, because of its close proximity to San Francisco many visitors make a visit to Wine Country a weekend day trip. For those traveling in the off peak season; there are events planned, lodging options are usually more plentiful, and rates are usually lower. It is still best to make your reservations in advance. When touring the wineries it is usually a good idea to visit a variety of different size wineries, this way you get a more full experience. Even if you are not a wine drinker, the process is interesting and the views are spectacular. Napa Valley is a safe place to visit, but it’s still a good idea to use traveler’s checks instead of cash. Do not to leave valuables in your car. Numerous banks are located throughout the area that offer currency exchange and ATM access.