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Napa Valley: Great Wine, Small Valley!
December 20, 2010 by David
Filed under Wine Words
If you ask someone how much of California’s wine comes from Napa Valley, they usually come back with something like 80% or 90%. It’s a natural mistake, since the wine is so well known. But, actually, only 4% of California’s wine is grown here – this is one small valley! At just over 30 miles in length and 4 miles wide at the widest point, we don’t have the real estate to make a lot of wine.
So, why is the wine so famous? Because it’s really goooood! Kind of like a Rolls Royce. Everyone knows it’s a wonderful car, but there aren’t very many of them, are there? Luckily, our wine doesn’t approach the cost of that Rolls!
We’d love to grab credit for the wonderful wines but, as you might guess, it’s all about soil and climate. We’re blessed with a great combination and it’s our job to make the most of it!
Good bit of trivia to spring on your dinner guests! More on the Napa Valley AVA.
Wine Trivia du Jour
This one can spark quite the debate! Meritage is pronounced:
a) Merit-tahzh
b) Like “heritage”
Stop arguing and find out in our Wine Trivia Challenge!
Wine Trivia du Jour
This used to confuse the heck out of me! True or false: Pinot Grigio and Pinot Gris are the same variety.
What do you think? Find out in our Wine Trivia Challenge!
Wine Trivia du Jour
Here we go: Malolactic fermentation for Chardonnay makes it:
a) Buttery
b) Yeasty
c) Increases the acidity
d) Replaces barrel aging
What do you think?
Find the answer in our Wine Trivia Challenge!
And, how do you like your Chardonnay? Fruity and crisp? Rich, oaky and buttery?
Wine Trivia du Jour
Which U.S. President brought wine grapes over from Europe to start a wine business in the U.S. (and failed – phylloxera got the better of the poor vines)?
a) FDR
b) George Washington
c) Thomas Jefferson
d) Andrew Jackson
Clue: Phylloxera eliminates one possibility
What do you think? Find out in our Wine Trivia Challenge!
Wine Trivia du Jour
True or false? American oak and French oak are the same species. The difference is in the growing conditions and production methods. 
Hmmm… Sounds plausible. Could that explain why American oak seems to impart aromatics quickly where French oak seems to contribute more in terms of structure? What do you think?
Find out in our Wine Trivia Challenge!
Wine Trivia du Jour
We get more questions about aging than almost anything else! So, here goes: 
True or false: All wine improves with age.
The answer may surprise you. Find out in our Wine Trivia Challenge! Go ahead – ace it!
Wine Trivia du Jour
Okay, this is a fun one: If the wine tastes like peaches, the winemaker most-likely:
Goosecross Viognier
a. Added peaches
b. Used grapes with peach-like character
c. Added peach flavoring
d. None of the above
What do you think? Find out in our Wine Trivia Challenge!
Wine Trivia du Jour
Okay, here’s one of my favorite bits of trivia:
What percent of California’s wine comes from Napa Valley?
a) 4%
b) 12%
c) 25%
d) 89%
Let me give you a hint: Napa Valley is a little over 30 miles long and about 4 miles wide at the widest point.
What do you think? Find out in our Wine Trivia Challenge!
Wine Trivia du Jour
Here’s a crazy one for you:
True or false: The substance that makes microwave popcorn buttery is the same as the one that makes Chardonnay buttery.
What do you think? Too strange to be true? So strange that it has to be true?
Find out in our Wine Trivia Challenge! Cheers!
