Oakville AVA
This viticultural area is located in the center of the Napa Valley. It begins north of the town of Yountville and extends northwest about a mile past the town of Oakville just before Cakebread Cellars winery. It abuts the Rutherford AVA on its northwest boundary and the Yountville AVA along the southeastern side. The Oakville AVA extends across the valley floor and, although it encompasses less than 6,000 acres, includes many esteemed Napa Valley wineries. This region also hosts several distinguished vineyards, including the famous Martha’s Vineyard (whose Cabernet Sauvignon grapes go into the esteemed vineyard designated bottling by Heitz wine Cellars), Franciscan Oakville Estate vineyards, Beringer’s State Lane vineyard, and Robert Mondavi’s famous To Kalon vineyard. Although other grape varieties like Sauvignon Blanc, semillon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, and Petit Verdot are grown, the Oakville AVA is prime Cabernet Sauvignon country.
The New Wine Lovers Companion, 2nd Edition, by Ron Herbst and Sharon Tyler Herbst. Copyright © (1) 2003, 1995 by Ron Herbst and Sharon Tyler Herbst. Reprinted by arrangement with Barron's Educational Series, Inc.