Valle de Napa

In California (where 90% of American wine is produced) lies the Napa Valley. It is California's most renowned wine region, the mecca of New World wine innovation, and a global paradise for wine tourism (receiving 5 million visitors annually).

The winemaking tradition in Napa Valley dates back to the 19th century, but the region's rise to prominence occurred in 1976, following the success of its chardonnay and cabernet sauvignon varietals in a tasting organized by critic Steven Spurrier in Paris. In this blind tasting, Californian wines were pitted against legendary labels from Bordeaux and Burgundy; surprisingly, Napa Valley wines proved to be on par with French wines, surpassing them in some cases. This milestone laid the foundation for the success of Napa Valley and Californian wines. Today, there are more than 300 wineries in Napa Valley.