1. The Dirt on the Napa Valley Soils and Sub-Appellations
A true Napa Valley classic since 1976.

2. INTRODUCTION
NAPA VALLEY
SOILS
CLIMATE
VITICULTURE
WINEMAKING
HISTORY
NAPA VINTNERS

3. “Wines of the highest quality, cultivated with excellence in one of the world’s most extraordinary places” – Napa Valley Vintners
For over 40 years, Napa Cellars has been crafting wine from owned estate vineyards, as well as those of our esteemed partner growers, who share our meticulous dedication to the coveted terroir of Napa Valley

4. Introduction: Napa Valley Location
San Francisco
Pacific Ocean
Los Angeles
36 miles from the Pacific Ocean
48 miles from San Francisco
360 miles from Los Angeles

5. Napa Valley Fast Facts
TOTAL ACREAGE
Covers 225,300 total acres 43,365 vineyard acres (19% of total land)
21,747 Cabernet Sauvignon 5,900 Chardonnay 4,154 Merlot 2,615 Pinot Noir
2,662 Sauvignon Blanc 1,275 Zinfandel
George C. Yount planted the first grapes here in 1839.
Napa Valley is California’s first AVA (1981). There are now 16 sub–AVAs within the Napa Valley AVA.
Napa Valley is one of the smallest wine regions in the world as only 4% of California wines and 0.4% of the world’s wine is from here.
Vineyards range in elevations from sea level to 2,600 feet (800 meters) above sea level.
There are over 500 physical wineries in Napa County producing more than 1,000 different wine brands.
Judgement of Paris (1976): Napa Valley wines take top honors over French wines
95% of Napa Valley wineries are family owned or operated
2018 Napa County Agricultural Crop Report

6. Napa Cellars Tasting Room
Napa Valley Fast Facts
SOIL Napa Valley has the greatest soil diversity found in winegrowing regions around the world.
Half of the world’s soil orders are found here.
SUB–AVA’S There are now 16 sub–AVAs nestled within the Napa Valley AVA.
CLIMATE classified as Mediterranean.
Napa Cellars Tasting Room

7. Establishment of Napa Valley
1839
1889
1890s
1933 s
George C. Yount plants and cultivates Napa Valley’s first wine grapes.
Napa Valley has more than 140 wineries
Phylloxera hits and grapevine acerage decreases from 15,807 to 2,000 in just 12 years.
Prohibition is repealed, Napa Valley begins the slow road to recovery
Napa Valley experiences a renaissance. Napa Valley Vintners is established in 1944.
1968
1976
1981
2012
Today
America’s first agricultural preserve is established declaring that agriculture is the best use for the land in Napa Valley.
Napa Valley wineries take top honors in the Paris Wine Tasting, known as the Judgment of Paris— “a vinous shot heard ‘round the world”. Napa Cellars produces its first vintage in the heart of the Napa Valley. 44 wineries in the Napa Valley AVA at the time.
Napa Valley AVA, the first American Viticultural Area in California, was established.
Local wine industry contributes more than $13 billion to local economy and $50 billion to U.S. economy
Home to over 500 wineries where vintners continue to strive for even higher quality wines, focusing on environment sustainability in the process.

8. Napa Cellars Fast Facts
Established in 1976 over 40 years ago in Oakville; 44th winery in Napa Valley
Solely sourced from Napa Valley, these wines capture the true essence of the Valley in every bottle.
Napa Valley’s varied microclimates and soils make it possible to grow a variety of wine grapes.
Captures the classic, unmistakable style of Napa Valley, with rich, ripe fruit, balanced acidity and carefully selected oak.
Add bottle shot

9. A Classic Napa Valley Story
1839
1968
1976
1981
1996
1997
1999
George C. Yount plants and cultivates Napa Valley’s first wine grapes.
America’s first agricultural preserve is established declaring that agriculture is the best use for the land in Napa Valley.
Napa Cellars produces its first vintage in the heart of the Napa Valley. 44 wineries in the Napa Valley AVA at the time. Infamous Paris tasting reinforces Napa Valley’s position as a high quality wine producer.
Napa Valley AVA, California’s first American Viticultural Area was established.
Napa Cellars is purchased by industry pillars, the Rombauer and Frank Family continuing to focus on crafting high quality Napa Valley wines.
Winemaker Joe Shirley graduates from UC Davis with a Masters of Science in Enology.
Joe Shirley joins Trinchero Family Estates as an enologist and winemaker. Our South Napa Vineyard is planted to Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.
2000
2006
2007
2015
2016
Today
Napa Cellars continues to focus on honoring the rich heritage from which it has grown from and crafting wines that are a classic, unmistakable interpretation of Napa Valley as well as upholding the commitment to hosting warm and welcoming tastings from the sommelier to the expert alike.
Joe Shirley’s work on grape seed tannins was published in the American Journal of Enology and Viticulture.
Napa Cellars is purchased by Trinchero Family Estates.
Joe Shirley is appointed head winemaker and has since taken a decidedly minimalist approach, letting the extraordinary terroir and the grapes speak for themselves.
Our Salvador Vineyard in the Oak Knoll district is planted to Cabernet Sauvignon.
Napa Cellars celebrates its 40th Anniversary.

10. NAPA VALLEY TERROIR OVERVIEW

11. How Does Terroir Affect Viticulture?
Site selection
Topography
Soil Composition
Drainage
Sun exposure
Climate/temperature
Grape variety selection
Soil composition
Topography
Viticulture practices
Canopy management
Soil management
Irrigation management
Trellising
Rootstock selection
Vigorous vs. non-vigorous
Multiple Vineyards
Greater complexity

12. VALLEY FORMATION AND SOILS

13. Formation of Napa Valley
North American Plate
Bits of ocean floor deposited on top of the continent
Descending
Farallon Plate
Mountains erode, creating sedimentary rock
Magma rises, forming a string of volcanoes along the coast
Plates Colliding: million years ago
Sierra Nevada / Great Valley Sequence: million years ago
Franciscan Formation: million years ago
Lava deposits on top of Franciscan Formation and Great Valley Sequence
Continent moving southward
along fault
San Andreas Fault
Ocean floor moving northward
San Andreas Fault: 25 million years ago
Napa Volcanics: 5 million years ago

14. The Vaca and Mayacamas ranges are lifted, creating a valley in between
Coast Range Formation
The Vaca and Mayacamas ranges are lifted, creating a valley in between

15. Soils of Napa Valley Fluvial Soil Alluvial Soil Mountain Soil
Silts and clays deposited along banks of the Napa River
Deep, rocky and well-drained soils with moderate fertility
Thin, rocky soils that cling to hillsides as vines struggle to survive
SOIL-FORMING PROCESS
Silts and clays deposited along riverbank as floodwaters rise and recede over the years
SOIL-FORMING PROCESS
Settles at the base of a mountain after being washed downhill along a stream
SOIL-FORMING PROCESS
Created in place
PROVENANCE
The product of bedrock material found on the hillside above
PROVENANCE
The primary breakdown of underlying bedrock
PROVENANCE
All bedrock material along the hillsides upriver
WINE STYLE
Lush and generous fruit-forward wines
WINE STYLE
More fruit forward with less aggressive tannin structure than wines grown on mountain soils, although more so than with wines from Fluvial soils
WINE STYLE
Smaller berries, intensely flavored wines with structured tannins and complex aromatics

16. CLIMATE

17. Mediterranean Climate: 2% of Earth’s Surface

18. Fog in Napa Valley
Hot air rises, drawing in moist, cool air from the Pacific Ocean, forming fog
Make a climate- put together rainfall and temperature

19. Average Annual Rainfall and Temperature
SOUTH VALLEY FLOOR
18 in / 46 cm
Low 60°F/High 80°F
MOUNTAINS
40 in / 102 cm
Warmer lows/Cooler Highs
NORTH VALLEY FLOOR
35 in / 89 cm
Low 50°F/High 90°F
Typical Summer Highs/Lows

20. Elevation and Topography
SOUTH VALLEY FLOOR
Sea level in the south
MOUNTAIN RANGES
2,000+ feet
NORTH VALLEY FLOOR
350 feet in the north

21. Napa Cellars Deep Dive by Varietal

22. Sauvignon Blanc Sub-Appellations
Mid- Northern Valley:
Warm to hot due to protection from western hills, less fog
Elevation: 200-1,200 ft.
Rainfall: in./year
Soil: Gravelly clay, volcanic
St. Helena (narrowest part of valley, heat retention): Layers of tropical and stone fruits
Calistoga: Citrus and riper fruits
Mid-Southern Valley:
Moderately warm to cool, marginally influenced by early morning fog
Elevation: Sea level-800 ft.
Rainfall: inches/ year
Soil: Sedimentary, gravelly sand, fertile, silty clay, volcanic
Rutherford: Melon and stone fruit
Oak Knoll (valley’s largest alluvial fan): Fresh fruits and acidity
Vineyard Sourcing
Owned
Partner

23. Chardonnay Sub-Appellations
Southern Valley:
Moderate to cool with prevailing marine winds from the San Pablo Bay and Petaluma Gap to the West
Elevation: Sea level-800 ft.
Rainfall: in./year
Soil: Clay dominant, volcanic, stony, silty clay
South Napa Valley
Oak Knoll (valley’s largest alluvial fan)
Carneros (lowest rainfall in Napa Valley)
Longer, cooler growing season results in longer hang time and energetic acidity
Crisp apple, pear, minerality, spice
Vineyard Sourcing
Owned
Partner

24. Pinot Noir Sub-Appellations
Southern Valley:
Moderate to cool with prevailing marine winds from the San Pablo Bay and Petaluma Gap to the West
Elevation: Sea level-700 ft.
Rainfall: Up to 24 in./year
Soil: Clay dominant
South Napa Valley
Carneros
Delicate flavors, layered fruit, earthy minerality, balanced acidity
Vineyard Sourcing
Owned
Partner

25. Merlot Sub-Appellations
Mountain Region:
Cool, influenced with temperatures about 10–15° cooler than the valley floor in summer; above the fog line
Elevation: 760-2,600 ft.
Rainfall: 38 in./year
Soil: Volcanic, limited water retention
Atlas Peak: Elegant red fruit, lush with complex structure
Mid-Southern Valley:
Moderate to cool with prevailing marine winds from the San Pablo Bay and Petaluma Gap to the West
Sea level-800 ft. elevation
24-38 inches rainfall/year
Soil: Volcanic, stony, silty clay
Oak Knoll: Elegant with fruit flavors of cassis, tobacco and spice typical to Bordeaux-style reds
Carneros: Brawny and lightly herbal, with fine tannins and sleek structure
Vineyard Sourcing
Owned
Partner

26. Cabernet Sauvignon Sub-Appellations
Mountain Region:
Cool, influenced with temperatures about 10–15° cooler than the valley floor in summer; above the fog line
Elevation: 760-2,600 ft.
Rainfall: 38 in./year
Soil: Elegant red fruit, lush with complex structure
Atlas Peak: Bright berry and cherry fruit, and more acidity than valley floor
Northern Valley:
Warm, due to greater protection from western hills, with less fog or wind. Narrowest part of valley, heat retention off hillsides.
Elevation: ft.
Rainfall: 30 in./year
St. Helena: Deep, ripe, often jammy flavors, with firm tannins for structure and good acid
Mid-Southern Valley:
Moderately warm to cool, marginally influenced by early morning fog. Slightly longer growing season.
Elevation: Sea level-800 ft.
Rainfall: in./ year
Soil: Volcanic, stony, silty clay, sedimentary, gravel
Rutherford: Intense cherry and mineral, earthy aromas, full, ripe, with firm, supple tannins for extended aging
Oak Knoll (valley’s largest alluvial fan): Elegant style with fruit flavors of cassis, tobacco and spice typical to Bordeaux-style reds
Vineyard Sourcing
Owned
Partner

27. Zinfandel Sub-Appellations
Mid-Northern Valley:
Warm to hot due to protection from western hills, less fog influence
Elevation: ,200 ft.
Rainfall: in./ year
Soil: Gravelly clay, volcanic, silt loam
St. Helena (narrowest part of valley, heat retention): Blackberry-like, well-structured
Calistoga: Layered, dark and lush with supple earthiness
Mid-Southern Valley:
Moderate to cool, with marine influence and fog contributing to cool summer mornings and the strong breezes off San Pablo Bay
Elevation: Sea level- 800 ft.
Rainfall: in./ year
Soil: Volcanic, stony, gravelly loams
Yountville: Ripe aromas but supple flavors and firm tannins
Oak Knoll: Elegant and concentrated, yet fresh with round, supple tannin
Vineyard Sourcing
Owned
Partner

28. Thank You

29. Appendix

30. Dedicated Winemaker Joe Shirley Winemaking Philosophy
Raised in Napa Valley
Master of Science in Enology, University of California at Davis
Joined Trinchero Family Estates in 1998
Winemaker at Napa Cellars since 2006
Winemaking Philosophy
Grapes are sourced exclusively from Napa Valley’s legendary terroir
Varietally authentic wines, representing the vineyards where the grapes were grown
Classic Napa Valley style—ripe, rich, clean and balanced
Exclusive use of French oak carefully matched to each lot
Native yeasts, minimal fining, no filtering, extended macerations
Délestage performed with seed removal

31. Key Selling Points
Long-term investments in our Napa Valley estate vineyards, and those of our longstanding grower partners, provide us with the highest quality fruit for our wines.
Dedicated winemaker, Joe Shirley, has been making Napa Cellars wines for a decade.
Our wines are predominately single-varietal, giving consumers the true varietal expression they expect.
Aging in French Oak barrels, carefully matched to varietals, creates balanced wines (Unlike the oak alternatives many of our competitors use)
Consumer research indicates our brand is perceived as established, classic, approachable and delicious.2
Napa is in our name; we are the only Top 50 luxury and super luxury brand1 to own this enviable trademark. – STILL WINE
Our Oakville tasting room brings our unique story to consumers in the heart of Napa Valley.
Napa Cellars delivers an incredible combination of Napa Valley quality and value.
1 – Nielsen 52 weeks ending 9/7/19, Still Wine, $15+
2 – Nielsen survey of 1000 luxury wine consumers 12/16