| History of the Oak Knoll Wine Region in Napa Valley |
History of the Oak Knoll Wine Region in Napa Valley
Oak Knoll has had a reputation as a fine wine producing region for many generations. You will find Oak Knoll in the southern part of Napa Valley. When you visit this region you will discover that it is typically less crowded than many other regions in the area. One of the reasons for this is the fact that most of the wineries in the region are located off of Highway 29 rather than directly on the highway. This can be a tremendous advantage for the tourist; however, as it typically means that the tasting rooms will be less crowded.
The climate in this region is somewhat transitional due to the fact that it receives the cooler winds from San Pablo Bay in addition to the warmer air coming from the North. This area has often been described as a 'sweet spot,' a term that was coined by John Trefethen. As a result of the transitional climate a wide variety of different grapes can be grown in this region.
One of the most interesting aspects of this region is the terrain of the Oak Knoll wine region. Each individual vineyard plot can be somewhat unique and different and contain a different soil composition. This is the reason you will find a tremendous amount of variation in this region.
Prior to 1968, most of the region was actually not used for growing grapes at all. There had been some wine production but certainly not to the point that it has reached today in Oak Knoll. Eugenio Trefethen was the first to realize how much untapped resource this region might hold. He purchased 600 acres in the region and the rest is now history. In 2004, Oak Hill was designated as an AVA.
The first winery built in Oak Knoll was Eshcol Winery, built in 1886. Gravity flow technology was used in this winery in order to make production more streamlined. Some of the earliest wines produced in this winery became highly acclaimed. Cabernet Sauvignon was particularly well known.
In the 1920s the Biale family moved to area and began producing wine. Eventually they opened a winery as well as a tasting room on Big Ranch Road. In order to visit this winery you need to make an appointment.
When Treffethen purchased his 600 acres in 1968, part of the land he purchased encompassed the old Eshcol property. Several years later, in 1973, Trefethen Winery was established by John Trefethen. It was a long and difficult process; however, he set about restoring the once historic property. Today, his winery is still a fine example of gravity flow technology in use in a winery.
The 1970s proved to be a tremendously vital time period in the development of Oak Knoll as a premier wine region. In 1970s, Jeff Corley arrived and began to establish a number of vineyards. In the beginning he planted Chardonnay and Pinot Noir; however, since that time he has shifted his attention to planted many varietals that are much fuller bodied. For a number of years, Corley sold his grapes to other wineries; however, beginning in the 1980s he began his own wine production. His winery now produces a highly acclaimed Pinot Noir.
Other well known wineries in the Oak Knoll region include Darioush Winery, Andretti Wineery, Laird Family Estate, Koves Newlan, Sedna and Broodale Vineyards. Robert Biale Vineyards and Trefethen Vineyards continue to stand out among the vineyards in this region.
PPPPP
Word Count 572
|
An Introduction to Napa Valley If you are a wine lover, there is nothing better than taking a tour of ... read more
Chiles Valley Although small, Chiles Valley is one of the premier wine regions in the state of California. More than ... read more
Contribution of the Climate and Terrain to the Popularity of the Stags Leap Wine Region Just off Silverado Trail you ... read more
Diamond Mountain Wineries: Persistence and Skill Produces Excellent Wines Diamond Mountain wineries are elevated above the valley floor, situated on ... read more
Guide to Howell Mountain Wineries in Napa Valley Howell Mountain offers some of the most outstanding wines in the region, ... read more
Guide to Oakville Wineries When visiting Oakville, you will notice there are a number of wineries worth visiting. Depending on ... read more
Guide to Rutherford Wineries in Napa Valley It has been argued that the wineries in Rutherford produce the best Cabernet ... read more
Guide to Spring Mountain Wineries in Napa Valley Spring Mountain wineries are situated in the northwestern hills of Napa Valley, ... read more
Guide to Stags Leap Wineries in Napa Valley As you travel through Stags Leap, you will notice that there are ... read more
History and Development of Mount Veeder in Napa Valley The weather in Mount Veeder tends to be rainier than the ... read more
History and Development of Rutherford as a Premier Napa Valley Wine Region The first local grapes were planted in Rutherford ... read more
History of the Carneros Wine Region In the eastern part of Napa Valley, you will find Carneros. While Napa Valley ... read more
History of the Oak Knoll Wine Region in Napa Valley Oak Knoll has had a reputation as a fine wine ... read more
Howell Mountain: Seclusion is Recipe for Success Howell Mountain has been the home of noteworthy wines for a number of ... read more
Introduction and History of the Oakville Wine Region in Napa Valley The Oakville region has become associated with quality wine ... read more
Introduction to the Coombsville Wine Region in Napa Valley Although Coombsville is not an official AVA, it is still highly ... read more
Introduction to the Regions of Napa Valley When you first decide to visit Napa Valley you may well find that ... read more
Introduction to the Yountville Wine Region in Napa Valley If you are planning a stay in Napa Valley, you may ... read more
Oakville AVA: A Study in Individual Differences Situated directly in the heart of the Napa Valley wine region, Oakville experiences ... read more
The Climate and Terrain of St. Helena Lends to an Exceptional Napa Valley Wine Region St. Helena has become known ... read more
The Development of Spring Mountain as a Napa Valley AVA On the western side of Napa Valley, on the Mayacamas ... read more
The Distinguishing Characteristics of Atlas Peak The wineries of Atlas Peak in Napa Valley are situated along the eastern hills. ... read more
The Effect of the Climate and Terrain on Rutherford Wineries Rutherford Wineries have become known in the last few years ... read more
The History and Development of the St. Helena Wine Region in Napa Valley St. Helena was the focal point of ... read more
Tips for Planning a Pleasurable Napa Valley Wine Tour Napa Valley is a great destination to plan a vacation where ... read more
|
|
|
Disclaimer:
The Publisher has strived to be as accurate and complete as possible in
the creation of this website, notwithstanding the fact that he does not
warrant or represent at any time that the contents within are accurate
due to the rapidly changing nature of the Internet.
This site
is a common sense guide to History of the Oak Knoll Wine Region in Napa Valley. In practical advice websites,
like anything else in life, there are no guarantees of income made.
Readers are cautioned to reply on their own judgment about their
individual circumstances to act accordingly.
This site
is not intended for use as a source of legal, business, accounting or
financial advice. All readers are advised to seek services of competent
professionals in legal, business, accounting, and finance field.
Any
perceived slights of specific people or organizations are unintentional.
|