17 Distinct AVA
Regions to Explore

The heart of Napa Valley's Cabernet country. Oakville's benchland soils and warm, even temperatures produce some of the most sought-after wines in the world. The famed To Kalon vineyard sits at its center.

Notable wineries: Opus One, Robert Mondavi, Silver Oak, Far Niente

Famous for its 'Rutherford Dust,' a unique earthy quality imparted by the region's alluvial soils. Rutherford has been producing benchmark Cabernet Sauvignon for over a century.

Notable wineries: Inglenook, Caymus, Frog's Leap, Cakebread Cellars

Home to the wine that won the 1976 Judgment of Paris and put Napa on the global stage. The volcanic palisades create a sheltered microclimate that produces Cabernets of remarkable elegance and silky texture.

Notable wineries: Stag's Leap Wine Cellars, Pine Ridge, Clos Du Val

The largest concentration of wineries in Napa Valley, anchored by the charming town of St. Helena. Home to some of the valley's oldest and most storied estates, including the first commercial winery, Charles Krug.

Notable wineries: Charles Krug, Beringer, Hall Wines, Duckhorn, Heitz Cellar

The northernmost floor AVA, known for its geothermal activity and hot springs. Calistoga's volcanic soils and warm climate produce bold, structured reds with a distinctive mineral character.

Notable wineries: Chateau Montelena, Castello di Amorosa, Schramsberg

A compact AVA known equally for its wines and its world-renowned dining scene. Morning fog from San Pablo Bay moderates temperatures, producing wines of balance and finesse.

Notable wineries: Dominus Estate, Cliff Lede, Goosecross

The coolest region in Napa Valley, shaped by persistent winds and fog rolling in from San Pablo Bay. This climate makes Carneros ideal for Burgundian varieties and sparkling wine, rivaling any cool-climate region in the world.

Notable wineries: Domaine Carneros, Artesa, Bouchaine

A transitional zone between the cool Carneros to the south and the warmer mid-valley. Oak Knoll's moderate climate supports an unusual diversity of grape varieties.

Notable wineries: Trefethen, Laird Family Estate

Napa's first sub-appellation, established in 1984. Howell Mountain vineyards sit above the fog line in thin volcanic soils, producing intensely concentrated wines with firm tannins that reward long cellaring.

Notable wineries: OVID, Dunn Vineyards, La Jota, Cade

A rugged mountain AVA on the western Mayacamas range. Vineyards are carved into steep, forested hillsides at various elevations and exposures, producing wines of great complexity with a mountain intensity.

Notable wineries: Joseph Phelps, Keenan, Pride Mountain, Cain

A small, exclusive AVA on the southwestern slopes above Calistoga. Diamond Mountain's volcanic ash and rocky soils stress vines into producing deeply concentrated Cabernets with a distinctive dusty mineral quality.

Notable wineries: Diamond Creek, Von Strasser, Constant

The most rugged and remote of Napa's mountain appellations. Mount Veeder's thin, nutrient-poor soils and cool, breezy climate naturally limit vine vigor, producing small berries with intense flavor concentration.

Notable wineries: The Hess Collection, Mount Veeder Winery

The largest mountain AVA by acreage, sitting on the eastern side of the valley. Atlas Peak's high elevation and volcanic soils produce structured, tannic wines. The iconic Stagecoach Vineyard is one of Napa's most important grape sources.

Notable wineries: Antinori, Atlas Peak Wines, Stagecoach Vineyard

One of Napa's newest AVAs, Coombsville sits in a cool pocket southeast of the city of Napa. The region's volcanic soils from the ancient Stags Leap volcanic eruptions give wines a distinctive minerality.

Notable wineries: Caldwell, Farella, Jayson by Pahlmeyer

A small, secluded valley tucked into the eastern Vaca Range. Despite its low winery count, Chiles Valley is prized for old-vine Zinfandel and Cabernet grown in its unique interior-valley climate.

Notable wineries: Brown Estate, Volker Eisele, Green & Red

The smallest and most remote AVA in Napa, with only a handful of planted acres. Wild Horse Valley's cool, windswept terrain produces limited quantities of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay with exceptional acidity and finesse.

Notable wineries: Wild Horse Valley Ranch