How To Take the Wine Country Trip Dreams Are Made of Without Leaving Downtown Napa
16.12.2023 - 14:29
/ matadornetwork.com
In 1836, George Calvert Yount planted the first wine grapes in the Napa region. Wild grapes grew in the area, but Yount saw the potential for winemaking, and subsequent settlers followed suit with their own vineyards, including traditional European vitis vinifera grapevines.
More than 180 years later, Napa Valley is renowned as one of the best viticulture regions in the world. Having survived the phylloxera pest infestation that devastated vines around the world, Prohibition, and the changing whims of consumers, this wine paradise is home to outstanding winemakers, stunning landscapes, and incredible food.
Photo: Downtown Napa
Napa has long been a place where people go to get out into the vineyards themselves. And there’s certainly no shortage to choose from with more than 400 wineries in the region. But if you’d rather skip the driving and walk from tasting to tasting, it’s easy to try some of the best Napa wines in downtown tasting rooms (as well as California brandy, if you’re looking for something stronger).
With more than 50 wineries located in the heart of the city, you can spend days just figuring out where to go. These are the ones you don’t want to miss.
A post shared by Acumen Wine (@acumenwine)
Acumen produces some of the highest quality estate-grown wines (meaning the team grows their own grapes instead of sourcing from other vineyards) in Napa that reflect the the terroir of the region. The vineyards, primarily growing cabernet sauvignon as well as sauvignon blanc, are located on Atlas Peak, which is defined by volcanic soil and high elevation perfect for wine grapes and gives the bottles a distinctly rich, deep, and complex flavor. The highlight are the two signature collections led by famed winemaker Phillip Titus: the soft and elegant PEAK collection and the vibrant Mountainside collection.
Walking through the tasting room in downtown Napa makes you feel like you are in an exquisite art museum thanks to curated local art. Here, visitors can learn more about the history of the winery, as well as its sustainable practices that help to minimize the impact on the integrity of the land.
Acumen Wine Gallery: 1315 1st St, Napa, CA 94559
A post shared by Vermeil Wines (@vermeilwines)
Vermeil Wines is famous for its reds (cabernet sauvignon, grenache, and cabernet franc) and its whites (chardonnay and sauvignon blanc). The brand was founded by Dick Vermeil, a football coach and wine aficionado who invested in the local wine making industry in 1999. It also makes balanced, harmonious Bordeaux-style blends. The winery also carries a sense of sustainability and legacy in the winemaking industry. It sources grapes from vineyards run and managed by families who have been in the grape farming industry