|
About Napa Valley
History
'Napa' is the name given to this lush
valley by the Wappo Indians, Native
Americans who once lived near the banks of the Napa river. In 1823, Padre Jose
Altamira was the first European to explore the area, populated at the time
by between three and six thousand natives.
Farmers started settling in the
Napa Valley in the 1830's, lured by the rich volcanic soil and an ideal growing
season. Napa became one of the
original 27 counties of California in 1850, when California was granted
statehood. By 1870, the Native Americans were virtually gone from the area.
The city of Napa was laid out by Nathan
Coombs on property he acquired from Nicholas Higurerra's Rancho Entre-Napa in
1848. In the late 1850's and the 1860's, Napa flourished, with
quicksilver mines throughout the county, particularly on Mt. St. Helena. Boat
transportation was available on the Napa River where steamers could make the
trip to San Francisco in about three hours. A stagecoach line and a railroad ran
between Vallejo to the south and Calistoga at the northern end of the Valley. After the first severe winter
in the gold fields, miners sought warmer refuge in the young city where there
was plenty of work on the cattle ranches and in the lumber industry. Sawmills
in the Valley were full of timber hauled by horse team to Napa City where it was
then shipped out via the Napa River to Benicia and San Francisco.
Many of the original farmers
established small vineyards with cuttings supplied by the Catholic Missions in
Sonoma and San Rafael. While these varieties were not noted wine grapes, they
established that the soils and climate of the Napa Valley were especially well
suited to viticulture. In 1861 Reisling cuttings were planted
and from these small beginnings, Napa Valley has become one of the world's
premier winemaking regions. Virtually all the best known wineries offer
tours and tasting daily, with the most popular time for knowledgeable visitors
being from late August through early October, the time of the grape harvest and
crush.
Noted author Robert Louis Stevenson drew
the most eloquent word picture of the Valley at the close of the pioneer
period. After riding the train from Vallejo to Calistoga in 1880 on his
honeymoon, he wrote this passage in 'The Silverado Squatters': "A great variety
of oaks stood now severally, now in a becoming grove, among the fields and
vineyards. The towns were compact, in about equal proportions of bright, new
wooden houses ad great and rowing forest trees; and the chapel bell on the
engine sounded most festally that sunny Sunday, with the townsfolk trooping in
their Sunday's best to see the strangers, with the sun sparkling on the clean
houses, and great domes of foliage humming overhead in the breeze."
Cities
The major cities of the Napa Valley include American Canyon, the Valley's
newest city, incorporated in 1991; Napa, the county seat and the largest
city in the county; the town of Yountville, noted for its fine
restaurants and lodging; St. Helena, where many major wineries are
located; Calistoga, the "spa city" of hot springs and the Old Faithful
geyser; and Angwin, the mountain community which is home to Pacific Union
College.
Agriculture and Tourism
What makes Napa Valley the famous tourist destination is its miles of
spectacular vineyards, wineries, world-class restaurants, spas, resorts and
lodging. The core economic driver of the area is agriculture, and for
Napa, that means wine grapes. Local zoning and planning is devoted to
protecting the agricultural base of the Valley. The temperate climate, the
short distance from San Francisco and the natural beauty of the area all combine
to make Napa Valley one of the most sought-out destinations in Northern
California.
My Favorite Places
There are so many wonderful restaurants and resorts to enjoy in Napa Valley.
Some of my favorites are:
|
|
