Where Is Napa Valley, And Why Does It Produce Such Good Wine?
5. Description
The beautiful wine country of Napa Valley in California is a hub of natural resources. The Napa County is known for several of the "finer things" like cheese and rolling greens, with delectable wine being one of the primary ones. Napa County is one of the original counties that were created in 1850, and it comprises the Napa, California Metropolitan Statistical Area, located in the northern portion of the U.S. state of California.
4. Historical Role
A settler George Calvert Yount was the first person to identify the potential of making wines out of the wild grapes in Napa Valley. It was in 1839 when he planted Napa Valley Grapes and started the winery. First commercial winery was set up here in 1861 by Charles Krug and taking the lead, other wineries just popped up in the area soon. Though in the 1900s, there was a severe loss for the industry due to root louse and later due to the Prohibition Act of 1920, but the wine industry survived it successfully later in 1933 when the act was lifted. In 1944, all the vintners decided to work together in a bid to earn more profits. The last few decades saw the wines of Napa Valley being put up against the likes of the wines of Paris too.
3. Wine, Tourism, and Industry
Today, Napa Valley has emerged not only as a wine country but also for its tourism. There are plenty of things to do in Napa Valley besides tasting the Chardonnay on your trip across few of the wineries. Biking trails from Yountville, a tour of Castello di Amorosa, or indulging in the refreshing Calistoga Spa鈥檚 Hot Springs are all things you can do here. From going on privately guided tours of the wineries right up to the cellars for grabbing a bite of charcuterie sausage or smoked cheese, tourists can find a variety of ways to enjoy themselves in and around Napa.
2. Habitat and Biodiversity
Napa Valley has become noted for its rich fauna and flora. The Savannah Sparrow, the threatened species of California red-legged spider, and the Golden Eagle can be termed as the native of Napa Valley. Napa County falls in the Pacific Flyway, the route that migratory birds take too. Mammals like mountain lions, bobcat, and wild bears exist here and birds, reptiles and amphibians too like Pacific Giant Salamanders have made Napa their home. The Napa River Watershed has become a home to some of the endangered species like the California freshwater shrimp. Steelhead trout, California Clapper Tail, and other animals are either endangered in this region and need immediate attention too for conservation. Many are already being conserved by various Conservation and Rescue groups.
1. Environmental Threats and Territorial Disputes
In the last few years, many vintners have been found to use improper or careless methods of grape farming causing damage to the environment like killing the wildlife, draining the natural wetlands and even by contaminating the watersheds. This has caused environmental hazards for the migratory birds and the fishes that live there native to these areas, and conservation programs are underway as well. Beringer Blass Wine Estates are also accused of causing damage to the wetlands nearby. There is a paucity of agricultural lands too for the cultivation of Napa grapes. The local conservation groups have come up with various plans to conserve the local wetlands and protect the wildlife.
