Oakville - Wine Region of the Day
/Oakville
Photo of unknown vineyard in Oakville by David Toomey for Qorkz
Oakville was designated as an AVA in 1993 and is a sub-appellation of the Napa Valley AVA. Its viticultural roots go back to 1868 when H.W. Crabb established the first vineyard in the area that he name To Kalon (the beautiful). That vineyard is still being farmed and is part of the Mondavi holdings. Sitting on 5,700 acres centered on the town of Oakville, it is probably Napa Valley's most famous appellation. The soil in Oakville is well-drained gravel soil deposits from the nearby Vaca and Mayacamas Mountains. The region goes from sea level in the valley to 600 feet in elevation at the base of the Vaca Mountains. Oakville has a warmer climate than much of the Napa Valley, with mild amounts of wind and fog from San Pablo Bay. The conditions in the region are ideal for growing Cabernet Sauvignon, and many of America's greatest producers of Cabernet Sauvignon have vineyards in the AVA. In addition to Cabernet Sauvignon,Chardonnay and Merlot are also grown here.