Napa

A two-hour drive north of San Francisco, the Napa Valley is world-renowned for its fine wines. Hemmed in by mountains on each side, this 55-mile-long by 8-mile-wide valley is blessed with abundant sunshine and fertile soils that prove perfect for growing grapes. A Hungarian immigrant, Agoston Haraszthy, founded the first Napa winery - the Buena Vista Winery - in 1857. Today, dozens of wineries dot the valley and most welcome visitors. Occupying a 1903 stone winery, The Hess Collection, in the hills west of Napa, boasts a superb gallery with an outstanding collection of modern art. Domain Chandon, in the town of Yountville, is renowned for ...

A two-hour drive north of San Francisco, the Napa Valley is world-renowned for its fine wines. Hemmed in by mountains on each side, this 55-mile-long by 8-mile-wide valley is blessed with abundant sunshine and fertile soils that prove perfect for growing grapes. A Hungarian immigrant, Agoston Haraszthy, founded the first Napa winery - the Buena Vista Winery - in 1857. Today, dozens of wineries dot the valley and most welcome visitors. Occupying a 1903 stone winery, The Hess Collection, in the hills west of Napa, boasts a superb gallery with an outstanding collection of modern art. Domain Chandon, in the town of Yountville, is renowned for its sparkling wines. In Rutherford, the Niebaum-Coppola winery owned by Hollywood producer Francis Ford Coppola contains a museum dedicated to his movies. At the north end of the valley, Calistoga is known for its hot-spring spas and yesteryear ambience. Nearby, Old Faithful Geyser erupts on a dependable basis every 40 minutes. For a bird's-eye view of the valley, take flight in a hot-air balloon, departing Calistoga for early morning floats. Highway 29 runs along the valley floor, while the Silverado Trail (a former stagecoach route) hugs the eastern valley wall.

About the Expert

Christopher P. Baker has authored guidebooks to Costa Rica, California, and various Caribbean islands for Frommer's, Lonely Planet, and National Geographic, among others.