Directly to the North Of Los Carneros and veering off to the Northwest for some 13 miles as it follows both the Mayacamas range and the boundary with Sonoma is the Mount Veeder AVA. It is here that one finds the steepest, most challenging vineyards in Napa Valley.
Based as it is around the slopes of a long dormant Volcano, Mt. Veeder's soil is composed of decomposed basalt and compact ash as well as sandstone and shale at the lower elevations. With almost 3 feet of rail annually, these porous soils are one of the elements that distinguish this AVA, no to mention making it even more challenging to establish a vineyard here.
The high elevation, ranging from 600 to 2300 ft, keeps the vineyards out of the reach of the San Pablo bay fog and results in temperatures that are moderate for the region. This combination of factors creates some stern, structured wines but with beautifully complex fruit.
Cabernet and Chardonnay long have been the grapes of note from Mt. Veeder, with the Chardonnays retaining bright
Read more » Directly to the North Of Los Carneros and veering off to the Northwest for some 13 miles as it follows both the Mayacamas range and the boundary with Sonoma is the Mount Veeder AVA. It is here that one finds the steepest, most challenging vineyards in Napa Valley.
Based as it is around the slopes of a long dormant Volcano, Mt. Veeder's soil is composed of decomposed basalt and compact ash as well as sandstone and shale at the lower elevations. With almost 3 feet of rail annually, these porous soils are one of the elements that distinguish this AVA, no to mention making it even more challenging to establish a vineyard here.
The high elevation, ranging from 600 to 2300 ft, keeps the vineyards out of the reach of the San Pablo bay fog and results in temperatures that are moderate for the region. This combination of factors creates some stern, structured wines but with beautifully complex fruit.
Cabernet and Chardonnay long have been the grapes of note from Mt. Veeder, with the Chardonnays retaining bright acids and a minerally character and the Cabernets yielding very powerful yet balanced wines with exceptional cellaring potential. In the past some excellent Zinfandels were produced here but more and more Syrah is usurping that second level position. The meager soils here and conditions that foster small berries have produced powerful yet minerally Syrah that is quite distinct from the fruit driven versions more commonly encountered in the region.
– Description from
Gregory Dal Piaz
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