Many visitors from around the world have made Napa Valley, California one of their favorite destinations and continue to be drawn to its rich beauty, history and agriculture each year. Whether it’s the best place to play a round of golf, taste wine, dine at world class restaurants, or relax after a divine spa treatment, Napa Valley offers a wealth of things to do and see.
While staying at Silverado Resort we hope that your experience is magnificent. Recognized as one of the top wine growing regions in the world, visitors come year round to the Napa Valley for renowned wine, unparalled fine dining and spectacular views.
Needless to say, the affect of beautiful weather on visitors to the Valley exceeds expectations as well. In addition to wine tasting, picnicking, and hot air ballooning, there are trails for hiking, biking, and horseback riding. More than premier resorts and spas, there are hot springs, golf courses and garden tours. Don’t just eat at a 5-Star restaurant when you can take a cooking class with a world renowned chef and learn how to pair your dishes with fabulous Napa wine! Don’t just shop when you can purchase fresh and organic produce at a local farmer’s market. And don’t schedule an outdoor event anywhere other than in this gorgeous region. So really, why visit anywhere else than “Napa,” the land of plenty, during this spectacular time of year?
Silverado Resort offers seasonal packages during this time of year. Two of our most popular packages are our Wine Tasters Dream Package and for golfers, our Golfers Dream Package. We hope to see you soon!
Winemaking in the Napa Valley
From Pakistan and Iran to Egypt and Greece, the art of winemaking dates back to well before 6000 BC. With support from the Roman Catholic Church for use in Mass, and later from Islam for cosmetic and medical usage, winemaking spread throughout the world. It wasn’t until the late 19th century however that the concept of New World Wines (wines made outside of Europe and the Near East) was really born.
The Napa Valley’s first established commercial vineyard appeared in 1858 soon followed by the first commercial winery at Charles Krug, in 1861. By the end of the century Napa had more than one hundred and forty wineries thriving in its midst due to the ideal soil and climate for making wine (among an array of other fruits, vegetables, nuts and grains). A blow came at the end of the 1800s when the vine killing pest phylloxera significantly ravaged most vineyards in the region. Not long after, prohibition and subsequently the Great Depression, halted Napa viticulture altogether. Many wineries resumed production following the Second World War but in 1965 Robert Mondavi Winery, the first large scale winery in years, marked the start of a successful post-prohibition Napa.
Napa began to expand in its number of both commercial and boutique wineries and to gain notoriety. The Valley’s historical overnight success came in 1976 when an unknown Napa Cabernet Sauvignon won an international tasting competition in Paris when paired against many legendary French Bordeaux. This very public victory launched Napa to international acclaim and has no doubt contributed to its success over the last 30 years.
Today, the Napa Valley (which comprises the towns of Napa, Yountville, Oakville, Rutherford, St. Helena and Calistoga) boasts more than 300 wineries. It’s no surprise that “Napa” meaning land of plenty, has become one of the world’s leading wine regions.
