Napa Valley is truly an unbelievable Mediterranean oasis in the middle of Northern California’s gorgeous rolling hills. Nestled inside of what many refer to as the “wine country,” Napa is world-renowned for the incredible grapes and wine it produces. Visitors to the town will be astounded by both the incredible beauty of the area as well as the amazing amount that wine has infiltrated the culture here. It seems that everywhere you turn there is either an entrance to a majestic vineyard, rolling hills of vines, a quaint wine shop, or a sophisticated restaurant offering an extensive menu of fine wines for you to enjoy. A getaway to Napa will truly let you escape from your hectic everyday life, letting you live, if only for a moment, the Edenic, blissful life of Napa Valley.
Located in the heart of the region known as “Wine Country,” Napa contains more than 350 wineries for your enjoyment, most of which ship wine internationally and have gained international fame for their taste and overall quality. More than 3 million visitors per year visit this astounding region, wishing to catch a glimpse of the natural abundance for which the Napa Valley is famed. The reason Napa is so adept at growing grapes is the dry, warm Mediterranean climate afforded to it by its location in a protected valley of Northern California. The soil is very rich and arid, and this fertility combined with the magnificently temperate weather and moderate yet consistent waterfall means an almost ideal location – similar to that of the famed grape-growing regions of France and the rest of southern Europe – for vineyard cultivation. The Napa Valley is already well on its way to becoming an international wine powerhouse, but the discovery of its fertile soil is by no means a new development.
In the middle of the 19th century, pioneer George Yount moved to the Napa Valley and planted the very first crop of wine grapes ever in the region. During his lifetime, the wine industry did not take off, but after he gave his business to his son-in-law, Yount’s original intention finally came to fruition. Grape-growing soon flourished in the fertile Napa Valley, attracting many more affluent growers from around the country and world who were seeking out the Next Big Thing in American agriculture. Charles Krug began Napa Valley’s first actual winery, distilling and creating the first signature wines of the Napa Valley and in the process transforming the valley from what was just an agricultural area into the prosperous distilling and bottling region we know and love today. Interestingly, you can still visit the historic Krug family winery today, bottling many kinds of fine wines such as Cabernet, Chardonnay, Pinor Noir, and Merlot. At the turn of the 20th century, Napa had begun its rise to becoming the formidable and prosperous viticulture region to which visitors now flock from all over the world.
One of the best ways to take advantage of this wine-growing region is to take tours of the seemingly endless number of wineries located in Napa Valley. Surrounded by the majestic, rolling hills that will likely resemble the gorgeous slopes of Tuscany to any who have visited there, these tours will be a great way to get a taste (literally!) of the natural wonders of the Napa Valley as well as get a hands-on look at how some of your favorite wines are created. Usually, these tours take you on a guided tour around their various crops of grapes, then give you a behind-the-scenes look at how their winery operates, from the crushing of the grapes to a glimpse at the carefully-maintained barrels that infuse the grapes with the winery’s signature flavor. These tours can be a great way to get a behind-the-scenes look at how your favorite wines are crafted – and many times they offer free wine tasting as part of the package!
Napa Valley is truly one of the most exquisite regions of California. Covered in glorious vine-lined hills and dotted with quaint little towns that truly make you feel like king or queen for the weekend, taking a trip to this luxurious northern California valley will surely be a highlight of your year.
About Golden Horizon Travel: Golden Horizon Travel offers a different brand of service. A variety of qualities that make our touring experience unique and memorable. Our services are professional, designed to make each tour a personal experience. Top of the line vehicles, for groups of various sizes, ensure that the tour is comfortable.

When You book a nice apartment in Positano Apartment in Positano – Amalfi Coast, with us You’ll realize  how beautiful and magic this town is.

The dream came true four decades ago, in ’62, and Ettore Sammarco speaks with emotion and pride. His family always made wine. Their farm is an ancient tradition. But like so many here in the South, selling bulk wine and say anonymously. Although it was very popular, but paid badly. So for years the goal of Hector was to bottle the wine, to treat him better and distributed to restaurants and wine shops are able to appreciate its quality. The large steel silos lay siege to the cellar, the last witness of what was the old company. Which, without prejudice to any more advanced technology, retains the character and structure of the past. Beginning with the family, he sees next to the boss Hector, the son Bart, both working on the production front, while Rosa Maria and Antonio, two daughters, following the administrative and commercial sector.The Doc Amalfi Coast in ’95 gave an extraordinary impetus to the wine production area. A consecration certainly deserved, even if the name of Ravello had a history when it comes to wines.

The guideline has avoided the risk that under this name were marketed mediocre wines with grapes and bastardized. The company under the label Selva delle Monache (the trademark) produces the Ravello Doc in its white, red and rosé.The soil is clay – and the volcanic system of animal husbandry in double Guyot, trellis and pergola. Beyond these common data, each wine has its own path. The white (60% Falanghina, Biancolella 40%) passes from the perfect ripeness of grapes at controlled temperature maceration and subsequent stay in steel for five months. The Ravello Red (40 Piedirosso%, 30% and 30% Aglianico Sciascinoso) has instead a prolonged contact with grape skins for a tannic, and after three months in stainless steel is aged for a year in French oak barrels.Also under the label Selva delle Monache, the Sammarco also produces a Ravello Rosso Riserva, made from Aglianico Piedirosso 70% and 30% is vinified with a short maceration on the skins with the must, then aged six months in steel. Bartolo Sammarco speaks with pride of Ravello Bianco, who does not hesitate to define rare. In fact it is produced only in the best years and about three thousand bottles. It’s the strict selection of grapes a result very happy (Broom 40% and Zita White Biancolella 20%). The grapes all come from the Vineyard Plains Cave, which enjoys a unique exhibition between sea and mountains. Hence the fruity bouquet and a hint of vanilla and toast.

The reference is again to the territory and effort that involves the care of the vineyard. They call it heroic viticulture, but on the Amalfi Coast is not known another type of farming. These terraces and pergolas these, and no one would know otherwise conceive.The Doc Ravello produced by Ettore Sammarco enjoy wide recognition. In the vortex of illustrious, that make Amalfi and its region the privileged refuge of the worlds of art, politics and entertainment, the Selva delle Monache took the bench. Schroeder from Zeffirelli to the great soloists and conductors’ s participating in the festival orchestra in Ravello, all these celebrated wines. And no one has given up a few bottles to take away.

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