The first people to live in Napa Valley were the Wappo Indians, with “Napa” translating to “the land of plenty”, which was a perfectly apt title for a place that had rivers rich with salmon, all kinds of wild animals including cats and bears, and of course it’s famous greenery cloaking the valley floor.
Officially, Charles Krug is considered the founder of the beautiful Napa Valley, because he developed the very first commercial in the Valley in 1861. By 1889 the region had well over 140 wineries, including Schramsberg, Inglenook and Beringer, the most popular in the area. Unfortunately, 1889 also saw Phylloxera reach the vineyards; a powerful epidemic that destroyed the vast majority of crops in Napa Valley.
In 1919 the Valley had found itself a new enemy, which was of course Prohibition. Almost all of the wineries and vineyard were forced to close there doors, with the exception of those producing and supplying wine for use in the Churches of the region. The law of Prohibition stretched out over more than fourteen years, and greatly damaged the industry at the time. However, during the second World War, the organization of the Napa Valley Vintners was formed and set about promoting all things wine related with many great successes.
Throughout the 1950s and 60s Napa Valley gained substantial growth and was widely recognized and respected amongst socialites who often both indulged in, and discussed, wines. These 20 odd years also witnessed the birth of vintners and winemakers of the new generation, leading the 1970s to see about an overabundance of innovations in the field of wine making it possible for Napa Valley to achieve first place at a wine tasting contest in France, winning it the place of pride it now holds today.
1968 saw the forming of the Agriculture Preserve Ordinance which since then has always ensured the health and happiness of vintners and locals alike as well as the Napa Valley’s development by arranging auctions and helping with the raising of funds totaling millions of dollars. 1982 was an especially significant year historically for Napa Valley as it attained a classification as a Vitcultural Area. It has large amounts of soil of various PH levels making it perfect for growing grapes to make wines.
Napa Valley, boasting more than 300 wineries has firmly established itself as a leader in wine production. If you are a wine connoisseur it is undoubtedly the perfect place to vacation. From seeing the most magically enchanting wineries to sampling the produce here the wine tours make for an absolutely unforgettable trip.

Tags: Beringer Vineyards, Napa Cellars, Napa Valley, United States, Wine, Wine tasting, Winemaking, Winery

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