United States · Americas
Napa Valley
America's first growth — cinematic Cabernet country.
Elevation
Valley floor 50 m → Howell Mountain 670 m
Harvest
Late August – mid October
Stamp
Grand Cru
XP reward
+480
Climate · Terroir
The land speaks first.
Mediterranean with cool Pacific marine layer drifting through the Petaluma Gap.
Volcanic Vaca soils east, alluvial Mayacamas benches west — 33 distinct soil series.
Signature varietals
4 grapes that define here.
Style 01
Mountain Cabernet
Tight-grained tannin, graphite, black currant — Howell, Spring, Veeder.
Style 02
Valley Floor Cabernet
Cassis, cocoa, plush mid-palate — Oakville, Rutherford dust.
Style 03
Carneros Chardonnay
Cool-climate citrus, oyster shell, restrained oak.
Winery highlights
Houses to know.
Opus One
Bordeaux blend
Screaming Eagle
Cult Cabernet
Harlan Estate
Hillside blend
Dominus
Napanook bench
Harvest cycle
Late August – mid October
Cool-vintage Cabernet picked into the second week of October at 24°-25° Brix.
Travel experiences
Go there, slowly.
TourHalf day
Helicopter to Howell Mountain
Aerial arrival, three estate tastings, lunch at 600 m.
Stay3 nights
Auberge du Soleil Retreat
Hillside suite, private sommelier, Michelin tasting menu.
Tasting2 hours
Library Vertical at Inglenook
1959 → 2018 Rubicon library flight.
Food culture
At the table.
- Dry-aged Sonoma beef
- Mt. Tam triple cream
- Olive-oil bottarga
- Wood-fired stone fruit
Passport unlock
Grand Cru
First Growth of the New World
+480 XP
Complete a tasting flight from this region to claim the Napa Valley stamp in your Passport.
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