Visit St. Helena and the Surrounding Area

Wine clubs of St. Helena

St. Helena, “Napa Valley’s main street,” has been known for its St. Helena wineries since its founding, and today is one of the centers of the world wine industry. Whole winery tours are devoted to this town, and a number of wine clubs are centered here that are well worth trying.

Sixteen different American Viticulture Areas are recognized within Napa Valley. The St. Helena AVA is at the northern end of the valley floor, where it gets less cool air and ocean fog than the southern parts of the valley. Its soil includes gravel-clay soils in the southwest and rich volcanic soils in the northeast. Deep, ripe Cabernet Sauvignons, Cabernet Francs and Merlots with jammy flavors and blackcurrant aromas all come from St. Helena wineries.

If you’re planning to visit St. Helena, you don’t need to confine yourself to the town limits — get out into the countryside and explore the little rises and dips in the terrain that create the multitude of microclimates for which this part of California is famous. You can find a lot within a five to ten mile radius of St. Helena.

A winery near St. Helena

Some of the best California wines come from Anderson’s Conn Valley Vineyards in Napa Valley. Just a 10-minute drive from downtown St. Helena, Anderson’s Conn Valley Vineyards produces world-class wines at affordable prices. The vineyard is a 40-acre estate just south of Howell Mountain. The microclimate of Conn Valley is cooler than many other parts of the valley, but warmer than Howell Mountain itself, so the grapes they grow are closer to mountain grapes than the grapes in the St. Helena AVA proper. At the vineyard, you have the chance to meet the owners and wine-makers and taste excellent wine stored in a cave.

Anderson’s Conn Valley Vineyards produces an Estate Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon. The 2012 Estate Reserve might be their best ever. The growing season of this dark purple and red blend was perfect for both yield and quality, producing the perfect balance of flavor and sugar in the grapes. The aroma has many notes, including cloves, mocha, licorice and the ripest red raspberries. The palate is deeply layered with dark red fruit, spices, new leather and licorice, and a smooth, rich, silky mouthfeel. There are hints of white pepper and orange peel in the finish.

The winery has been owned and operated by the Anderson family since 1983. Anderson’s wines are sold online and in five locations in Napa Valley, and many other locations nationwide. By ordering six bottles or more per year, you can join their wine club. This will get you a discount on many of their finest wines, including a $10 discount on the ’13 Estate Reserve. Join their wine club and try a bottle today.