The sins of progress have barely touched one of the world’s most prestigious wine regions. Once a sleepy, laid-back hideaway where the residents of Napa, Yountville, St. Helena, and Calistoga smugly enjoyed the fragrant air, tended their vines, and quietly celebrated one of the planet’s most attractive settings, the valley today remains the home of farmers and winemakers working the land and vines hand in hand. Wineries are still mostly family-owned and -operated, some appearing like grand estates plucked from the French countryside. On weekends, visitors crowd Highway 29 and the Silverado Trail, driving through the 30-mile-long, 7-mile-wide valley basin past thousands of acres of vineyards with more than 400 wineries. The town of Napa alone boasts some 37 tasting rooms. The Napa Valley is a wonderland of Victorian architecture, historic stone buildings, grand old landmarks, and expansive chateaus and estates. The gently rolling hills with their mosaic of soil …
Read More
RSS Feed | The Epoch Times
