Best Wineries on Howell Mountain, Napa Valley

Howell Mountain is Napa Valley's original mountain appellation — above the fog line at 1,400–2,200 feet, with volcanic soils producing some of...

Howell Mountain, rising to the east of Napa Valley at elevations between 1,400 and 2,200 feet, was California's first mountain appellation when it was established in 1984 — and it remains one of the most distinctive. The red volcanic soils that blanket this ridge above the valley fog are among the most demanding in all of California wine country.

Thin, nutrient-poor, and extremely well-drained, the volcanic soils of Howell Mountain naturally limit vine vigor and yields, producing berries of concentrated flavor, thick skins, and firm tannins. The resulting wines are among the most structured and long-lived in Napa Valley — not wines for immediate gratification, but wines that reward patience with extraordinary complexity after a decade or more in the bottle.

Above the morning fog line, Howell Mountain vines receive intense sunlight from early morning, building phenolic ripeness while cool evenings preserve the natural acidity that makes the wines age so gracefully. This is Napa Valley's austere, demanding, magnificent mountain face.

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