Pictures at: http://picasaweb.google.com/TusharPhotos/Ca_Napa
I was immediately enthralled by the area’s natural beauty, and vibrant tradition of winemaking. The valley has grown from an obscure, secluded hollow in the California landscape to an internationally recognized food and wine destination. The combination of Mediterranean climate, geography and geology of the valley are conducive to growing quality wine grapes. I also learned the tid-bits of wine making and tasting , Napa Valley grows many varieties of wine, We tested Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Zinfandel, Merlot, Syrah and Pinot Noir, Muscat and Reisling type of wines at Mondavi, V. Sutti and Hess wineries.
In 1975( when I came to USA), Napa Valley had no more twenty wineries. Today there are more than 250 Wineries. In Sonoma country the web of vineyards has grown well over 150 vineyards. The new are opening one. We discovered recent opening Castello di Amorosa Today, Napa Valley is home to almost 400 wineries. Its growers and vintners combine cutting-edge science with traditional techniques, and its reputation for producing world-class wines is firmly established in an ever-growing global market.
We visited following wineries : 1)
http://www.mondavi.com/home.asp ( took detailed tour, wine tasting lesion, purchased Muscat, Flume blank)
2) http://www.vsattui.com/ ( wine tasting, Purchased Dry Johannisberg Riesling )
3) http://www.hesscollection.com/ The Hess Collection Winery and Vineyards
4) www.copia.org/
Some of wines we tasted aree: Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Zinfandel, Merlot, Syrah and Pinot Noir , Reesling.
The World of Wine making is fascinating and so is the growth and economy of the Napa Valley. The engraving on stone at the Copia quotes R Mondovi “Wines , like poetry, songs are carriers of culture and the celebration of life”
The complete essay is available at http://www.napavintners.com
