Napa’s Nested AVAs: Yountville

Yountville Got it’s AVA distinction in 1999

The area making up the Yountville AVA and the town of Yountville is named after the American pioneer, trapper and frontiersman George C. Yount. He was the first American settler in the area which was originally part of the Rancho Caymus land grant, two leagues of land given to Yount in 1836 by Governor Nicolas Gutierrez, with influence from Yount's friend General Mariano Vallejo. As the first major landowner in the area, George Yount had a large influence on how the region would develop, even after his death. The town now called Yountville was originally named Sebastopol when founded by Yount in 1855, but after his death in 1867 the town was renamed to Yountville. George Yount is credited with planting the very first grapevines on his property in the 1840s and making wine using traditional processes, trampling grapevines with bare feet and storing grape must in suspended ox skins. When the fermentation process was finished, the wine was drained through a hole punched in the skin.

Yountville’s wines are among some of Napa Valley’s most elegant, refined and intricate creations, from Cabernet through to white grapes. The elegance comes from Yountville’s more southerly position which means it is constantly experiencing fog and wind. The wines are supple as they come from a low elevation region without mountain influence. But the same benchland that runs through Rutherford and Oakville extends here, creating a very favorable growing area for Cabernet. So the wines are similar to Rutherford and Oakville bench Cabernets in that they are complex with finely knit tannins, yet tend to be lower in alcohol due to the cooler climate.

As a growing region Yountville is principally gravelly silt loams, Sedimentary in origin, Gravelly alluvial soils with rock, Moderate fertility, Moderate climate, with cool marine influence and fog contributing to cool summer mornings. The strong breezes of San Pablo Bay keep afternoons more comfortable than further up valley.

Yountville is of course also justifiably famous as being a jumping off point for Napa Valley’s tourists. Some of the regions finest hotels and restaurants are located in this quaint village. As a long time Culinary professional, I also idolized Thomas Keller. My first time visiting Yountville, I was walking the beautiful French Laundry property. I ran into Chef Keller. I got to shake his hand and listen to him talk about how much he loves his garden. I was too starstruck to actually ask him anything of substance. However the way he talks about creating food, it was a masterclass just being in his presence. Slow food is not just a movement. Its a way of life. Click on the Links to head to a Thomas Keller establishment. Or Click the Visit Yountville button at the bottom to help plan your next trip!