Napa: Atlas Peak AVA

If it weren’t for the efforts of Italy’s Marchese Piero Antinori to grow Sangiovese in Napa Valley, Atlas Peak might not exist as an AVA. While Sangiovese proved to be not only difficult to grow in this rocky region in eastern hills, California Sangiovese was difficult to sell, no matter who made it. Antinori sold the Atlas Peak brand and later relaunched it as Antica (a conjunction of Antinori and California). The results have been stellar, Chardonnays and Cabernet Sauvignons focused and ageworthy. Stagecoach Vineyards, whose plantings cross into the non-AVA Pritchard Hill region, is a source of grapes for numerous producers.