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When you think of Napa County in the great state of California, only one thing should come to mind. That is wine making. Napa Valley has a prestigious notoriety. Most come to Napa Valley for great tasting wine and the county is considered one of the top American Viticulture Areas in all of California.
Napa Valley has a history that dates back to the 19th century. As wine became more and more popular Napa Valley became recognized as a great winery. Today there are more than 300 wineries located in Napa Valley and the guest list keeps growing and growing. Guests can sample Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay and Merlot.
Wine aside there is more to Napa Valley than glasses of red and white. Napa County is located just north of the bay area. The population is just below 125,000 although the visitor population is quite high. Napa is the county seat and its name thus far has been determined to mean a variety of things. They include house, motherland, grizzly bear and fish.
Napa County's climate is ideal for its wine making practices. It is a warmer climate than that of Sonoma County and Santa Barbara County. This makes the wines like Cabernet Sauvignon very special of Napa Valley. The views at Napa are just as nice as the wine. Napa County is also home to rare and endangered species like the Contra Costa goldfields and the Tiburon Indian paintbrush.
Napa County was one of the original counties when California became a state. In prehistoric times, the valley was used by the Patwin Native Americans. The valley went through dialect changes, different inhabitants and during all this California was a province of Mexico and 13 ranchos for raising sheep and cattle were granted in Napa County.
Annual events are popular in Napa County. There is a Mustard Festival, farmer's market, wine auction and a town and county fair. Other events include painting retreats, golf clubs, theatre, bicycle tours, numerous spa around the county.
Outdoor activities go hand in hand with Napa County. Of course, you can sample cheese and wine, but you can also walk and take tours. There are parks, places to hike and picnic and opportunities to fish and go boating. Napa County also offers education with the Napa Valley College and Pacific Union College in Angwin. Other areas of interest for education include San Francisco State University and Chapman University just to name a couple.
Napa Valley is a sight that both locals and celebrities enjoy. The resorts in Napa County provide rest and relaxation with delicious wines and food pairings. The Carneros Inn is one that celebrities frequent and you may even get to do a little celeb watching. Lance Armstrong and Sheryl Crow can be seen here.
Napa County has the best of both worlds. It is a great place for someone who loves nature and enjoys long walks and boating, but the county is also the place where you go for fine wine. Wine and Napa go together like cheese and crackers. Now that’s a good pairing for wine and there is no better wine than Napa Valley wine selections.
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