The grape is widely planted in California where Cabernet Sauvignon based wines are distinguished by their rich mixture of cassis, mint, eucalyptus and vanilla oak. Its spiritual home is the Médoc and Graves regions of Bordeaux where it thrives on the well-drained gravel-rich soils producing tannic wines with piercing blackcurrant fruits that develop complex cedarwood and cigar box nuances when fully mature. It has small, dusty, black-blue berries with thick skins that produce deeply coloured, full-bodied wines with notable tannins. It is adaptable to a wide range of soils, although it performs particularly well on well-drained, low-fertile soils. The most famous red wine grape in the world and one of the most widely planted. Franc and to a lesser extent Petite Sirah, Sangiovese, Barbera, Dolcetto.įrog's Leap, Dominus, David Ramey, Viader, Stag's Leap Cellars, Paras Vineyards, Heitz. The Calistoga AVA is still pending approval.īoth the Napa Valley designation and the sub-AVA name must appear on the wine label simultaneously, with the exception of wines from the Carneros AVA, which is shared between the Napa Valley and the Sonoma County.Ĭabernet Sauvignon is the undisputed king of Napa grapes, occupying over 45% of the vineyard acreage, followed by (predominantly) Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc, Riesling, Zinfandel, Merlot, Cab. Helena, Spring Mountain District, Stags Leap District, Yountville, Wild Horse Valley and Oak Knoll District. These differences have led to the creation of several sub-AVAs (14 in total) including:Ītlas Peak, Chiles Valley District, Diamond Mountain District, Howell Mountain, Los Carneros, Mt. The area enjoys a variety of unique microclimates, as temperatures can vary dramatically as much as 15 degrees, from the north to the south end of the valley.
The valley is framed by two mountains ranges Vaca (to the north) and Mayacamas (to the south), yet the main climatic influence is the cool wind and fog that is sucked in from San Pablo Bay during the afternoon, allowing grapes to ripen slowly and evenly. Its 16,000 ha of vines lie over a strip (40 miles long-5 miles wide) of diverse soils (clay, gravely, volcanic), with its northernmost end on the side of Mountain Helena and its foot in San Francisco Bay. North Coast's Napa Valley is California's most famous viticultural area (AVA), claiming some of the most expensive agricultural land in the world and producing wines of cult status. It is now not only home to some of the Napa Valley's best wines but also to what has to be the wine world's best motto - "Time's fun when you're having flies!"Ī strong commitment to sustainable agriculture on the part of Frog's Leap's vineyards complements the winery's goal: to have fun making elegant wines with superb balance: a crisp and vivacious Sauvignon Blanc, a spicy and engaging Zinfandel, a classic Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, a rich barrel-fermented Carneros Chardonnay, and a supple, fruit-filled Merlot. This grand and Welcoming building was originally built as a winery in 1884. An old ledger revealed that around the turn of the century frogs were raised there and sold for $.33 a dozen, destined no doubt, for the tables of Victorian San Francisco gourmets.įrog's Leap Winery is happily ensconced at the historic Red Barn property in Rutherford. Frog's Leap also offers private tastings for up to eight people via Zoom with four current release wines.F rog's Leap Winery in Napa Valley, California was founded in 1981 on a spot along Mill Creels known as the Frog Farm. PST via two-day shipping to arrive in time for the tasting. The designated wines for each week are available for purchase online and must be ordered by Wednesday at 10 a.m. New York Times Wine Critic Eric Asimov will be joining on April 25 for the Wine As Part of a Joyful Life session to answer common questions about the beloved beverage, like when to drink a particular variety and what food to serve with it. The upcoming session on April 18, Organic Farming: Thinking Like a Vine, offers valuable insight into farming wine organically, along with a tasting of two small lot vineyard designates. PST via Zoom or Instagram Live to taste two different varieties of Frog’s Leap wines and hear from producers John and Rory Williams, along with a special guest from time to time. You won’t want to miss the virtual offerings from Frog’s Leap Winery, as these experiences will do much more than educate you on the winery’s varietals.