Sonoma County Wine Region
Upper Napa Valley
St. Helena AVA · Stags Leap District · Howell Mountain
Napa Valley's historic core. St. Helena's landmark Main Street wineries, the Stags Leap District that won the 1976 Judgment of Paris, and mountain appellations with world-class Cabernet.
St. Helena AVA Stags Leap District AVA Howell Mountain AVA Spring Mountain District
Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot Sauvignon Blanc Zinfandel Petit Verdot
Why This Region Matters
Judgment of Paris Site
The Stags Leap District is where the 1973 S.L.V. Cabernet was made — the wine that beat France in 1976 and changed wine history.
1876 Beringer
St. Helena is home to Beringer — Napa Valley's oldest continuously operating winery, whose Rhine House and caves are a genuine landmark.
CIA at Greystone
The Culinary Institute of America's West Coast campus occupies a stunning 19th-century stone winery building in downtown St. Helena.
Best Picnic in Napa
V. Sattui's legendary deli and oak-shaded picnic grounds remain the most welcoming and generous outdoor wine experience in the valley.
Climate & Terroir
Warmer inland microclimate in St. Helena, transitioning to the cooler volcanic rock soils of Stags Leap. The dramatic palisades above Stags Leap create unique wind patterns that give the district's Cabernet its distinctive elegance.
Towns to Explore
🏘 St. Helena
Napa's 'Main Street' — charming boutiques, CIA at Greystone, Beringer, V. Sattui, PRESS Restaurant
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🏘 Stags Leap District
Where the 1976 Paris winner was made — dramatic palisade views, elegant iron fist Cabernets
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Wineries in This Region
Not Yet Reviewed
Beringer Vineyards
📍 St. Helena AVA
Not Yet Reviewed
Stag's Leap Wine Cellars
📍 St. Helena AVA
Not Yet Reviewed
V. Sattui Winery
📍 St. Helena AVA
Not Yet Reviewed
Joseph Phelps Vineyards
📍 St. Helena AVA
Not Yet Reviewed
HALL Wines
📍 St. Helena AVA
Not Yet Reviewed
Cakebread Cellars
📍 St. Helena AVA
Not Yet Reviewed
Duckhorn Vineyards
📍 St. Helena AVA
🗺 WinoNotion Visitor Tip
St. Helena is a great town to park and walk — the Main Street stretch has boutiques, galleries, and tasting rooms all within a few blocks. The Silverado Trail runs parallel to Highway 29 and is less congested — use it to reach Stags Leap without the highway traffic.