San Francisco Chronicle - (Sunday)
Spotlight: Napa
Learn what makes this worldclass wine region a mustvisit destination.
Known for its worldclass wineries, vineyard estates and Mediterranean climate, Napa has earned its reputation as the jewel of wine country. While roughly 43,000 acres are devoted to wine grape cultivation, Napa’s American Viticultural Area only produces about 4% of California’s total annual yield.
Thirty miles long, Napa’s AVA is but five miles across at its widest point. Cabernet Sauvignon dominates Napa’s vineyards, while Chardonnay, Merlot and Pinot Noir are other common varietals, according to Napa Valley Vintners. The industry pulls down more than $9.4 billion locally every year and creates roughly 190,000 jobs nationwide. More than 90% of Napa County’s wineries are family owned and there are about 475 wineries in the county itself. Together, they produce more than 1,000 different wine brands, according to Napa Valley Vintners.
Nearly 80,000 people call Napa home, according to a 2019 census estimate. Napa incorporated as a city in 1872 and it’s the secondlargest city in Wine Country.
Napa expanded during the Gold Rush and ranchers flocked to the area as well. A silver rush began a decade later, with Silverado Mine, near the summit of Mount St. Helena being the most notable. This was the mine referenced in Robert Louis Stevenson’s book “The Silverado Squatters.”
The city has flooded more than 20 times during its history but steps have been taken to mitigate future events. Efforts over the decades by the United States Department of the Interior, Congress and Friends of the River have helped keep flooding to a minimum. The last major flood came in 2005 and is considered the 23rd most serious flood of the Napa River since 1865. The area has also suffered damage from wildfires and earthquakes, with the last major tremblor being the 6.1 magnitude quake the struck in August of 2014.
Napa is no stranger to highend architecture. Vineyard estates, farmhouses, mansions and Victorians pepper the
fertile landscape. Architect Howard Backen is considered to be the originator of Napa Valley’s style, which prioritizes aesthetics, views and sustainability.
One of his Napa projects, Bond Estates, is a family winery and hospitality space with a cave system underneath.
Silverado Vineyards, inspired by Julia Morgan and Bernard Maybeck, is one of Napa’s architectural crown jewels. The Craftsmanstyle building boasts decorative braces, wide eaves and a lowpitched roof.
Friedensreich Hundertwasser is another storied architect whose work resides in Napa. His designs reject rigidity, embracing Surrealism and vibrant colors instead. One of his most famous works in Napa is the Quixote Winery, which features living rooftops and bright color scheme.
Napa is home to many famous residents, many of them former athletes. Golfers Johnny Miller and Scott McCarron call Napa home, as does Heisman Trophy winner and former National Football League player Charles Woodson.
The city is no stranger to artisans and creatives, either. Novelist Cristina García, musician Olivia O’Brien and photographer Peter Menzel all reside in Napa.
There are currently 216 listings for sale in Napa, according to Trulia.
The most expensive, Villa Mille Rose, is an 11bedroom, 14bathroom estate spread across more than 19 acres. It boasts 12,708 square feet of living space and an orchard with 350 olive trees. It’s on the market for the first time in more than three decades and is listed for $26.5 million.