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“NAPA VALLEY” wine is a well-known American wine, produced from a minimum of 85% grapes grown in the Napa Valley viticulture, produced and finished (no bottling required, packing) in the state of California, USA.

Wine grapes were first planted in Napa Valley by a settler named George Yount in the 1840s. In 1861, the first wineries were built here, including Charles Krug's winery which is still in operation today. By 1889, more than 140 wineries were operating in this area. In the same year, NAPA VALLEY wines entered the France competitive market for the first time, and NAPA VALLEY wines received 20 medals at the Paris World's Fair. By the 1890s, Napa Valley's wine industry was in decline as more than half of Napa Valley's vineyards were affected by the grape root aphid. This was followed by a US alcohol prohibition that lasted until 1933. During the ban, a few NAPA VALLEY wineries survived by producing eucharistic wines, which were permitted. After years of prohibition, Napa Valley's wine industry began to recover and continued to grow production from the 1940s and into the 1950s. In the 1960s, many premium wines were produced in Napa Valley. Even so, demand for wine is increasingly outstripping supply. Napa Valley has become a destination that attracts people who want to visit wineries and enjoy NAPA VALLEY wines. In 1976, Napa Valley consolidated its position as an internationally renowned and prestigious wine region. The two NAPA VALLEY wines have surpassed numerous other wines from renowned French winemakers. It was rated the best Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon by French wine reviewers at a Famous wine tasting in Paris. Since then, Napa Valley's wine industry has continued to grow and NAPA VALLEY wines are widely recognized as one of the world's top wines.

NAPA VALLEY white wines range in color from colorless to straw yellow, green or yellow; while the red wines can be purple, ruby, red or brown depending on the specific grape variety and the age of the wine. NAPA VALLEY wines have aromas and flavors characteristic of the particular grapes used in winemaking, ranging from fruity to floral, from earthy to spiced, from aromas of hazelnuts to the aroma of herbs. The product has a minimum alcohol content of 7% and a maximum of 24%.

The geographical area has a temperate environment, influenced by the Pacific climate. Warm and sunny days followed by cool evenings, an ideal combination for the grapes to ripen gradually and evenly.

Napa Valley is formed from geological tectonics and volcanic activity, from alluvial water and floods in San Pablo Bay that once spread to this valley. Rocky hills and alluvial flats have prevented the expansion of the valley floor, each of which bears the mark of past geological upheavals. The topography of the area produces a large variety of soils with more than 30 different soil types discovered. From loamy dry gravel soils to moisture-retaining alluvial clay, these soils vary in depth and fertility. The structure and composition of the soil has a strong influence on the layer of vegetation, including grapes grown on this soil.

In addition to the particularly favorable natural conditions, human factors also play an important role in creating the specific characteristics and quality of NAPA VALLEY wines. Pruning branches, pruning leaves, pruning grapes, cleaning grass are always focused by the grape growing teams. In order to produce fully ripe flavored wines, the grape harvest time in the geographical area is extended to increase the ripening time to maximize the Brix of the grapes. Grapes are harvested primarily by hand to prevent damage to the grapes, maximize quality selection and minimize the time between harvesting and pressing. Harvesting is done before dawn to reduce spikes in sugar content that can occur during hot daylight hours.

After harvesting, the grapes are put into the pressing stage. Grape juice is fermented and the fermentation process begins. Beginning of fermentation, no other ingredients added except water, grape juice containing crushed unfermented grape skins and seeds, concentrated grape juice, malo-lactic bacteria, yeast or yeast cultured from grape juice, yeast residues, pasteurizers, precipitates or other permitted fermentation additives.

Wine is stored in tanks, casks, containers, open or closed bottles, or any other suitable container without spoiling the wine. The materials used in the storage, filtration, clarification and purification of the wine should not alter the character of the wine. NAPA VALLEY white wines are aged for 0 to 24 months in casks and 3 to 12 months in bottles prior to sale. Red wines are aged for 6 to 120 months in casks and 6 to 48 months in bottles before being sold. The bottling and packing are not required to take place in the state of California, USA.

Geographic area: Napa County, California, United States, with coordinates from 38.09 to 38.46 degrees North latitude and from 122.03 to 122.38 degrees West longitude. The Napa Valley boundary line is described as starting at the intersection of the Napa - Sonoma county boundary and the Napa - Lake county boundary, the Napa Valley boundary running along:

- Border of Napa County - Lake County to the North;

- East of Putah Valley and west and south shores of Lake Berryessa to the east;

- The border between Napa and Solano counties to the south; and

- The boundary between Napa County - Sonoma County to the starting point to the West.

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