Napa: Oakville AVA

This is one of the most prestigious wine-growing districts in America. Stretching across the valley floor and piedmont areas just north of the Yountville hills, it encompasses famous historic vineyards such as ToKalon and Martha’s, cult Cabernets such as Harlan (on the western hills) and Screaming Eagle (on the eastern side), as well as a long list of highly successful wineries such as Far Niente, Groth and Opus One. As with most districts in Napa, there is a range of soils, drainage characteristics, and exposures. In general the weather is somewhat warmer than Yountville or Stags Leap because of the way the hills baffle winds off the bay. But most commentators would consider Oakville a bit cooler than Rutherford, thus lending an elegant nuance to Cabernets by comparison. Oakville’s famous To Kalon vineyard, planted by Hamilton Crabb in 1868, is now shared by Robert Mondavi winery and grower Andy Beckstoffer. Each owns a portion of this historic site, and wines made from Beckstoffer’s blocks are labelled as Beckstoffer To Kalon, to distinguish them from Mondavi’s To Kalon wines.