St. Helena: Where the Legend Began, 407 Version

St. Helena

June 3rd, 2016

Where the Legend Began

What’s inside?

• An interview with winemaker Aaron Pott • Breakdowns of the American Viticulture Areas in St. Helena

The AVA’s of St. Helena By: Harrison Reilly

“It is some of the best bench land in the Napa Valley.”

Aaron Pott, Winemaker, Blackbird Vineyards Photo By: Bob McClenahan

Appellation St. Helena Nestled in the middle of Napa Valley, Appellation St. Helena serves as the heartbeat of the wine industry. The area is home to wine makers, vineyard managers, winery owners, many various winery employees and some of the most fertile land in the world for growing grapes. Its location serves as the crossroads for the entire Napa Valley region.

St. Helena is the narrowest part of the valley floor, meaning more heat reflection of the hillsides, creating a warmer climate

Valley,” said Aaron Pott, a St. Helena winemaker.

Covering more than 9,000 acres, the appellation is home to more the 80 wineries, with the first being Charles Krug in 1861.

As with much of the valley, St. Helena is famous for its Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot varietals. Cabernet Franc, Syrah, Zinfandel and Viognier are also grown in the area.

“Cabernet Sauvignon grows well in many climates and is suited to many sites and adapts well to many growing conditions,” Pott said. “A better question would be why does Cabernet Franc grow so well there? The answer being the well drained gravel soils are very well drained and deal well with water. The soils are nutrients are poor and vines experience healthy stress. Valley floor vineyards have a high water table that prevents deep root growth.”

The soils in the southern and western area are mostly sedimentary, gravel-clay soils with lower fertility and moderate water retention. Further north and to the east, closer to Mt. St. Helena, the soils are very volcanic, deeper and more fertile.

Due to the history and the quality of wine, St. Helena is the economic heartbeat for Napa’s wine industry.

Howell Mountain

Photo By: Harrison Reilly

than other regions in the valley. This narrowing also protects St. Helena from relatively less fog and wind.

“St. Helena has a very extensive gravel bench that extends all the way to the Napa River which is on the extreme east side of the valley in that AVA. It is some of the best bench land in the Napa

Perched on the top of the Vaca Range, looking over St. Helena is the revered Howell Mountain AVA. With vineyards planted between 1,400 and 2,200 feet, the region is famous for growing Cabernet Sauvignon and producing some of the best wines in the world.

Howell Mountain gained the distinction in Jan. 1984 as being the first sub-region in Napa Valley to be recognized as an AVA. The success of the Cabernet Sauvignon grapes is attributed to the warmer and drier climate relative to the other areas of St. Helena.

Howell Mountain sees more hours of sunshine and very

little influence from the marine layer, which creates the big and complex red wines that California is famous for. While the area is known for its Cabernet Sauvignon, the mountain also grows

15 inches more of annual rainfall than the valley floor and the eastern slopes.

The soils are benefited from springs across the area, hence the name. Primarily sedimentary, the soil is made from weathered sandstone and shale, with a loamy and friable texture. Drainage is high with low fertility.

Spring Mountain grows diverse varietals, however, more than half the grapes grown on Spring Mountain are Cabernet Sauvignon. The region also grows Merlot, Zinfandel, Malbec and Chardonnay.

Despite being only a short drive from St. Helena, the Spring Mountain Districts showcases how diverse the relatively small area of St. Helena can be when it comes to making wine.

Rutherford Dust Photo By: Bob McClenahan

Merlot, Zinfandel, Chardonnay and Viognier.

Howell Mountain has very consistent soil characteristics, with a predominantly volcanic soil that’s shallow, with high drainage and low fertility. This soil allows deep rooting to take place. While the region includes 14,000 acres, only 600 of those acres have vines. This makes Howell Mountain fruit some of the most highly sought after grapes in the valley and creates landmark vintages for many wineries.

Even though the AVA is hidden from the rest of the valley, it’s a short drive from St. Helena, providing easy access for many St. Helena wineries

Just 10 minutes south of St. Helena is the town of Rutherford.

With its own distinct growing climate and AVA sub-region, Rutherford has a unique place in Napa Valley. Designated as a suregion in 1993, the Rutherford Dust Society was founded in 1994 to preserve the area’s century old legacy. The “dust” comes from a quote by the late winemaker André Tchelistcheff who said, “it takes Rutherford Dust to grow a great Cabernet.”

The term now is used as a testament to quality of wines that the Rutherford region has been producing for decades. With over 71% of vineyards dedicated to Cabernet Sauvignon, Rutherford contributes to some of the best wines in Napa Valley.

The climate is relatively warm, with some influence from the early morning fog. The west side of the AVA is cooler due to

Spring Mountain District On the eastern slopes of the Mayacamas Mountains, which separates the Napa and Sonoma valleys, sits the Spring Mountain District. Vineyards on Spring Mountain are planted between 600 to 2600 feet in elevation, providing dramatic views of St. Helena and the upper valley.

Despite the limited space, dark forests and winding roads, Photo By: Bob McClenahan

less afternoon sun and winds. The aforementioned western side soil is sedimentary, gravelly-sandy and alluvial with high water retention and moderate fertility. The eastern side has moderately deep volcanic soils that are more fertile.

While most of the 3,518 acres are planted to Cabernet, the region also grows Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc. With 48 wineries, Rutherford has made a lasting impact on Napa Valley wines.

Photo By: Bob McClenahan

the district has produced some of the best Napa wines, creating balanced and intense flavor.

Sitting above the fog line, Spring Mountain has warmer nights and cooler days than the valley floor. Mid-summer high temperatures typically reach 85 degrees. With over 30 wineries, 1,000 of the 8,600 acres encompassing Spring Mountain are dedicated to vineyards. Spring Mountain typically receives 10-

Use the QR code to view a detailed map of all Napa Valley appellations

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St. Helena, CA is a vibrant and engaging community that celebrates the finest in wine country hospitality, culinary adventure, wine immersion, the arts, health and wellness.

Experience fine dining in our award-winning restaurants, shop for one-of-a-kind keepsakes in our boutiques and galleries or simply pamper yourself at one of our indulgent spas. Whatever your reason for visiting St. Helena, you’ll quickly see why it’s an ideal destination for a getaway to Napa Valley

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