So, like any good reporter, I started making phone calls. Soon enough, I was trudging through the vineyards of the Willamette Valley. I felt soil between my fingers, witnessed the electric green of bud break, gawked at the butterscotch cascades of autumnal vines. I whiffed ramekins of jasmine tea leaves and tobacco and cloves, learning how to identify specific flavors in the glass. I listened as winemakers explained carbonic maceration and terroir and lees, let viticulturalists show me their grafted stems and pruned leaves.
Napa Valley is the iconic gem of California wine, helping put the state on the modern-day wine map. Capstone California reports that there are 475 physical wineries in Napa Valley spread across 17 sub-regions in a relatively small space. Napa Valley is only 30 miles long and 5 miles wide. It offers a diverse terroir for grape growing, particularly cabernet sauvignon. In addition to making exceptional wines, tourism is a significant, profitable business in Napa, with wineries rolling out red carpets for guests.
The Willamette Valley has quickly risen to domestic viticultural fame, and it's really no surprise why. The area's climate conditions, coastal influence and unique volcanic soils render it a perfect home for growing world-class pinot noir and chardonnay, so if your palate leans towards Burgundy, it's certainly the region for you.
Palisade, Colorado has become a haven for those seeking outdoor adventure and wine, offering a unique blend of natural beauty and over 30 wineries.